Western Hills Viaduct
Adaptive Reuse of Dying Infrastructure
John Shear
John Shear
DESIGN DRIVERS
Explore multi-scalar urban revitalization interventions.
Identify fragments of obsolescence in the urban core of Cincinnati.
Determine appropriate adaptive reuse program to bring occupancy and vibrancy.
SITE
Spanning over 3,500' in length connecting uptown/downtown Cincinnati with western Hamilton County, the Western Hills Viaduct is a critical linkage in Cincinnati's urban core. Built in the early 1930's, the viaduct carries roughly 55,000 cars per day above Mill Creek Valley and CSX Queensgate yard, one of the largest and most active rail yards in the country. As the bridge nears 100 years old, its useful life is coming to an end, and construction of a new bridge is slated for completion by 2030.
VERTICAL CIRCULATION
(PUBLIC)
PEDESTRIAN MEANS OF PASSAGE
Given the historical significance of this bridge and in the spirit of enhancing Cincinnati’s walkability, this proposal seeks to reimagine the bridge in a green, pedestrian-oriented manner that removes vehicular traffic from the equation entirely. The main components of the new WHV adaptation includes an affordable housing solution as well as connection to the city’s increasingly popular yet limited streetcar system.
HOUSING
TRANSIT (PRIVATE)
program
Housing Component
Prefabricated, modular units designed with the proportion and materiality of cargo shipping containers ever present on the tracks below aggregate in one final solution of 9 one-bedroom units spanning five floors and roughly 100’ in length. Anchored by a verticle circulation tower housing stairs and elevator, this aggregate is then repeated and mirrored down the length of the bridge 8 times, for a total of 72 units.
The axonometric section to the left illustrates the stacking of the units on the south-facing side of the bridge as well as the relationship between the housing and the streetcar track directly across, on the north-facing side. Between the two is an open pathway for pedestrian movement.
MECHANICAL BEDROOM/BATHROOM BEDROOM KITCHEN/COMMON KITCHEN/COMMON KITCHEN/COMMON 10’-0 16’-0” 10’-0” 12’-0”
27 SF 81 SF 135 SF 121SF 165 SF 330 SF 12’-0 16’-0” 31’-0” EAST-BOUND TRACK CATWALK VERTICAL CIRCULATION ANCHOR FREQUENT BALCONY ACCESS GLAZING SYSTEM ON SOUTH FACADE GREENING OPPORTUNITY
MODULE FRAMES | PRE-FABRICATED
UPPER DECK LOWER DECK
Sustainability
CSX QUEENSGATE YARD I-75 SPRING GROVE AVE FOOT TRAFFIC STREETCAR CSX QUEENSGATE YARD I-75 CENTRAL PKWY SOLAR OPPOORTUNITY WATER RUNOFF GRASS COVER IMPERVIOUS SURFACE CSX QUEENSGATE YARD I-75 CENTRAL PKWY CSX QUEENSGATE YARD I-75 CENTRAL PKWY ROADS BUILDIINGS RAIL SITE
Circulation
DIAGRAMS
Considerations Urban Context New WHV Proposal
Housing PLANS
STREETCAR LOADING LEVEL 01 OPEN PATHWAY 9’-0” 6’-6” 15’-0” 12’-0” MECH. COMMON BATHROOM BEDROOM KITCHEN UP UP LEVEL 02 MECH. TERR. UP LEVEL 03 DECK BELOW MECH. TERR. LEVEL 05 UP TERR. MECH. TERR. MECH. TERR. 4’-6” 6’-0” 13’-6” 9’-0” STREETCAR LOADING ZONE CATWALK CATWALK OPEN PATHWAY RAMP UP LEVEL 04 RAMP TERR. MECH. MECH.
RENDERED VIEWS
Upper Deck Looking West
Upper Deck Looking South
Lower Deck Looking West
Lower Deck Looking East
RENDERED VIEWS
Look Inside: Level 05 Look Inside: Level 04
Kitchen
Typical
Bedroom
Typical