Austin Light Rail , Austin/ Vereinigte Staaten

Press release by UNStudio | 6th March 2025

 

 

 

The design framework, developed by ATP, in collaboration with UNStudio, HKS and Gehl sets the foundation for how the light rail will interact with Austin’s neighbourhoods, prioritising people-first infrastructure and dynamic public spaces.

 

Austin Light Rail will mark a fundamental shift in how people navigate through Austin. With 15 stations spanning nearly 10 miles of rail network, Austin Light Rail Phase 1 will offer an all-new transit experience, connecting people to major job centers, education hubs, and iconic Austin destinations. The project will provide extensive new pedestrian and cyclist paths, expanded tree canopy for shaded urban corridors, and a new bridge over Lady Bird Lake.

 

ATP, in collaboration with the consulting team led by UNStudio, HKS and Gehl, conducted extensive community outreach to ensure that the system reflects the city’s character. UNStudio, HKS and Gehl worked collectively to develop a design framework that prioritizes intuitive, multimodal connectivity while fostering vibrant transit hubs for social interaction, local business activation, and expression of Austin’s unique identity.

 

Through extensive research, UNStudio, HKS and Gehl developed performance objectives across a variety of scales, from individual user journeys to system-wide elements, and site-specific opportunities. The resulting design guidelines are driven by inclusivity, neighbourhood integration, and sustainability:

 

• Each station is envisioned to be tailored to its surrounding neighbourhood, creating distinct public spaces that invite the community in and encourage alternative modes of transportation.

• Sustainable solutions, including tree-lined streets and shaded public areas, will help create a more comfortable and welcoming urban environment.

• The system will integrate with pedestrian, cycling, and transit networks to allow for multi-modal connectivity.

 

The design team’s strategy integrates these considerations across the entire network to ensure that every feature enhances comfort, safety, navigation and cognitive impulses, as well as accessibility for all riders.

 

The Austin Light Rail project goes beyond infrastructure. Seamlessly integrating the light rail with existing neighbourhoods and other modes of transportation will help ensure that it becomes a vital resource for enhancing connections and creating vibrant community hubs.

 

The Austin Light Rail project further establishes UNStudio’s presence in North America, anchored by our office in Austin and supported by our global offices in, among others, Amsterdam. This project is part of a growing portfolio of work that demonstrates our ability to deliver transformative design solutions across scales and typologies.

 

Further UNStudio projects in North America include:

 

• Georgetown University Capitol Campus Master Plan: A visionary approach to creating an academic hub in the heart of Washington D.C., emphasising the interplay between the campus, the city and the community.

• Innovation Triangle in Detroit: Pilot for urban transformation of downtown Detroit on basis of Cognitive Experience Design parameters.

• Firefly Park Master Plan in Frisco, Texas: Strengthening Frisco as a high-end public local destination while responding to environmental conditions.

• Utopia Living in New York: A mixed-use development that reimagines urban living in an economic and innovative way, whereby community building is central.

• The Jewish Museum in New York: A thoughtful modernisation of a beloved institution, preserving the heritage of the existing museum while providing a vibrant new visitor experience.

 

 

Client: ATP (Austin Transit Partnership)

Design team: UNStudio, HKS, Gehl - Architecture and Urban Design, Community Engagement

UNStudio: Design Lead, Cognitive Experience Consultancy, Community Engagement

HKS: JV and Design Partner

Gehl: Public Realm and Community Engagement

 

Team UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Frans van Vuure, Marianthi Tatari with Roman Kristesiashvili, Raul Forsoni, Ren Yee, Josey Shaw, Justin Brammer, Pere Maicas, Huey Chan, Leon Hansmann, Kevin Kunnappilly, Bernard Chiang, Yue Ma, Riccardo Persie, Samuel Toole, Yubo Ji, Zuzanna Montwill, Shaghayegh Shayan, Caterina Micucci, Alfiia Khabibullina, Maria Di Diego, Artemis Kyriakou, Aigul Sadrtdinova, Derrick Diporedjo, Arian Choroomi, Jose Sanmartin Gonzalez, Gustavo Van Staveren, Andrii Chudinov, Lucie Pressl, Cagdas Delen, Benjamin Davey

Visualisations: ©WAX Architectural Vizualizations