AD EX Opens A Stop Worth Waiting For Exhibition of Next-Generation DART Bus Shelter Concepts
About the Exhibition
The Architecture and Design Exchange’s latest exhibition, A Stop Worth Waiting For, showcases the student work produced in collaboration with DART and the American Institute of Architects – Dallas Chapter (AIA Dallas) to envision the future of DART bus shelters and to collect public input on their design. A virtual reality component of the exhibition allows visitors to experience the students’ prototype bus stop in both a downtown setting and a suburban residential environment.
“After research, interviews, and experience riding the bus throughout the DART network, students developed prototypes and renderings, including the virtual model that will be experienced at the exhibition,” AIA Dallas president-elect and project advisor Peter Darby, AIA says of the process. “At the conclusion of the semester, students created two working prototypes for future riders to experience. This exhibition shares the many aspects of their research and how they codified it into the final design.”
“Partnering with DART and AIA Dallas provided an opportunity to leverage the expertise and research of UTA CAPPA to bring focus to often overlooked real world conditions, in this case our Metroplex’s public bus shelter network, said UTA CAPPA assistant professor Julia Lindgren. “This partnership facilitated learning beyond the traditional classroom setting to connect students with firms, practitioners, makers, and clients that will provide students a head start in their careers beyond graduation.”
DART currently services 13 cities through 6,800 bus stops that accommodate over 20 million riders annually. Under its new bus network plan, DART calculates that 75% of people in DART’s service area live within walking distance of a bus stop. This offers an opportunity to provide resources to areas currently underserved by public amenities such as access to nature and cultural institutions.
“An important next step for the bus shelter program is collecting input from the riders and community members, and this exhibition offers a platform for visitors to interact with the concepts proposed by the students and further shape the outcome of the design,” says Darby. “After this round of feedback, the contractor working with DART will finalize next-stage prototypes that will eventually be placed at several key locations throughout the DART network for further input.”
A gallery talk and reception featuring the participating UTA CAPPA students will be held on Wednesday, March 8 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the AD EX. This program is free to attend, through the Greg Brown Memorial Discover Your City Series Fund. Registration and details can be found here.
Exhibition Contributors & Supporters
UTA CAPPA Students: Sumayyah Abdullah, Bamluck Abera, Victor Almaraz, Sandra Calzadillas, Marvin Diaz, Maryam Hashim, Jacqueline Hernandez, David Hine, Vanessa Huerta, Vanesa Lopez, Diandra Osorio, Kenett Rivera, Ayesha Shaikh, Berenice Velasquez, Richa Verma, and Tasfia Zahin
UTA CAPPA Assistant Professor: Julia Lindgren
Supporting Partners: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), American Institute of Architects – Dallas Chapter (AIA Dallas), Tolar Manufacturing, Urban Solar, K-Strategies, KAI Enterprises, and HDR