CREJ - Building Dialogue - December 2016
Westminster Station is the gateway to a planned vibrant, mixed-use district that combines the best of a welcoming neighborhood with the convenience and efficiency of light rail. Located just southeast of Westminster’s historic core, the new Westminster Station opened for business in July. The station is the center of a 135-acre planned transit-oriented development area in one of the Front Range’s prime growth sectors near U.S. 36 and Federal Boulevard. This redevelopment area also includes a 40-acre community park that will offer recreation and open space activities. Nearby, housing, retail, office and commercial developments are taking shape as this area moves into the forefront of regional growth in the Denver metro area. In concert with this surge of new development, Westminster Station is planned to be much more than a light-rail stop. For many light-rail riders, this is their first impression of the city of Westminster and the site plan is carefully designed in terms of scale, materials and lighting. North of the track, streetscape zones progress from the station itself, planned in layers to shift the experience as a user moves from train to neighborhood. First, a plaza provides a welcoming experience to train riders, with open vistas to the surrounding area as passengers emerge via a wide, curved tunnel. Exiting the tunnel, an amphitheater provides both a large welcoming green space for area visitors and a gathering area for concerts and public events. A wide promenade divides the amphitheater, providing a clear sight line to Hooker Street from the station and linking the transit node to the neighborhood. A band of sidewalks with trees, gardens and seating areas provides a buffer zone for the station with the neighborhood. Plans for multifamily housing, retail and commercial spaces are underway, with some developments close to the building phase. PROJECT TEAM LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Norris Design CONTRACTOR: CEI Constructors CIVIL ENGINEER: Martin/Martin LIGHTING: Clanton and Associates