Durham Station

Project Background

The City of Durham had an opportunity to create a more inviting space for Durham Station users and encourage increased transit use based on improvement needs of the center plaza landscaping. The Cultural & Public Art Program and Transportation Department commissioned an artist to create three temporary artistic sitting structures along the plaza area for high-volume use. The Durham Station is located at 515 W. Pettigrew Street, Durham NC 27701. Durham Station was designed by Phil Freelon and completed by The Freelon Group in 2008, soon to receive a 2009 Golden Leaf Award for Community Appearance. 

The artist, Theresa Arico, was selected from the Pre-Qualified Artists Registry by a panel of community members, Go Durham staff, City administrative staff, and Public Art Committee members. For more information about how to apply to the Pre-Qualified Artist Registry, please visit the Cultural & Public Art Program’s website, here: https://durhamnc.gov/2984/Durham-Calls-for-Artists. The deadline to apply for this public art project was Friday, April 30, 2021.

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) provided funding for the public art amenities at Durham Station. For the FY 2020-25 CIP, capital projects are funded through impact fees, enterprise funds, grants, the capital project fund, pay-go funding, and debt financings. More information about the CIP process and funding can be found here. 

Durham Station Background & History 

"Durham Station Transportation Center is the transportation hub at the heart of the City of Durham that provides multiple alternatives to automobile traffic, an essential component needed to support more densely populated urban areas. The project, made possible by a combination of city, state, and federal funding, ensures more efficient transportation throughout the Triangle.  

The two-story, 10,300 sq. ft. facility serves four and one-half million of DATA’s five million annual passengers. The site boasts twenty canopied bus bays, six parking spaces for taxicabs, disability parking, short-term parking, “kiss and ride” drop-off, and bicycle racks all organized around a transparent, day-lit passenger terminal that includes ticketing, waiting, package express, a driver’s lounge, security, and space for future amenities. The high performance glass enclosed open environment encourages social interaction while maintaining safety and comfort for waiting patrons. 

The design of Durham Station references the City of Durham’s rich cultural history by using materials selected to respect the visual and tactile texture of masonry found in Durham’s tobacco warehouses. The predominantly glass exterior walls offer a secure environment, visibility of transportation activity, and views of the downtown area, Historic American Tobacco, West Village, and the surrounding areas. Articulated metal roof forms, masonry, and concrete embraces the location’s industrial context while acknowledging the dynamic movement of Durham Station’s transit program and its adjacent intermodal transit facilities. 

In addition to the high performance glazing, generous roof overhangs and solar shading devices mitigate solar head gain while maintaining visual transparency. More than 30 percent below standard energy usage, the building not only serves sustainable transit practices but embraces energy conservation within its own footprint."
_{Source: https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/durham-station-transportation-center-1141}