The Spring Garden Connector Streetscape and Underpass has taken home a design award at the first annual Transportation + Infrastructure Design Excellence Awards ceremony. The New York chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLANY) and the American Institute of Architects (AIANY) honored the project with a Design Citation in the Open Space category.
Completed for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC), the Spring Garden Connector is a 270-foot-long pedestrian and vehicular underpass below Interstate-95 and a SEPTA Market-Frankford line station stop in Philadelphia. Working closely with DRWC, NV5 and Cloud Gehshan, The Lighting Practice transformed the once dark, cave-like tunnel into a safer and more attractive space for travelers. Color-changing light portals highlight the entries to the SEPTA station and cast light through suspended, metal graphics. The result is a memorable identity and a welcoming passage.
“The Spring Garden Connector has positively impacted the commute of many Philadelphia residents, employees and visitors,” said The Lighting Practice Founder and Principal Alfred R. Borden. Al and Associate Jonathan T. Hoyle designed the lighting system for the underpass.
The AIANY and ASLANY Transportation + Infrastructure Design Excellence Awards recognize exceptional designs by AIA and ASLA members in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The program honors built and unbuilt projects for their innovative design approaches to transportation and infrastructure and the designers’ commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and civic architecture. There are four award categories: Structures, Planning, Open Space, Projects, and Student Awards. The Open Space category recognizes design excellence in parks, constructed wetlands, and resilient sites. Each category offers four award levels: Honor Award, Merit Award, Citation, and Best in Competition. A Citation represents exemplary achievements on specific project aspects.
“All of us at The Lighting Practice thank the New York chapters of AIA and ASLA for honoring this project, which we’re proud to say has become a Philadelphia landmark,” Al said.