The Current

Current is defined as "a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, especially through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement" (Google Dictionary).

Currently, the site is surrounded by newly renovated buildings that wait for tenants. Because of the future Amtrak connection point, there becomes an opportunity to carry the energy from Old Town and Downtown to the site where locals welcome incoming tourists. Because there is intentional movement of visitors and locals it creates a bustling current of community activity where visitors can experience their first impression of Wichita and locals have a place to gather for events, shopping, and play. The aesthetics of the site will look current because it must represent the community of our time. As the old Union Station was utilized as a destination hub, so too will The Current as it becomes a market, and green space that addresses the needs of the current population.

The Union Station Corridor is a unique place because of the surrounding historic buildings and its proximity to Old Town. Currently, the site is a parking lot for the recently renovated Union Station platform that sits empty. The facility opened in 1914 and connected the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad; the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway; and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. The Wichita Union Terminal company handled daily operations until it stopped passenger rail service in 1979. Directly east is the historic, but newly renovated office space called the Ice House. It was built in 1901 as a hardware store and converted to an icehouse in 1909. On the North, the site is only separated from Old Town by a few historic buildings and Douglas Avenue. Being located adjacent to the facade of Union Station the site used to have major significance in Wichita as a place of travel, trade, hellos, and goodbyes. With the possibility of an Amtrak Station reopening on site, the site will once again fulfill the same purpose.

While being on site, it's clear there are more exciting opportunities occurring in the Downtown area in adjacent sites. Being set in Old Town, there’s first the strength of a narrative. Secondly, there was energy of people walking the streets and enjoying the weekend market and festivities. The last strength is the proximity to the railway. From the strengths, we found the opportunity to carry the energy down from the Old Town and give the community a place to gather. There’s an opportunity to marry the past and present and locals from Old Town and incoming visitors. Contrary to the surrounding energy, we observed the site’s weakness being its isolation from busy Douglas Avenue and the surrounding vacant buildings. The site becomes even more desolate the further south one walks towards the highway. The beautiful foundation was there, however, the people and programming were missing. The threat this sparse environment brings is a void in pedestrian access and a poor perception of safety. Activation plays an important role in mitigating both of these concerns.

The Current intends to enhance the identity, economy, activity, and ecology of the Union Station Corridor. Identity is achieved by embracing the historical context while showcasing the brilliance of the current time. Identity must be enhanced because the site will act as a gateway between visitors coming off the Amtrak train and locals inhabiting Old Town. By bringing the community to the gateway visitors will be welcomed by the best representation of Wichita there is -the people.

Secondly, the economy will be enhanced by the construction of a permanent market structure that can be used all year round. The addition of a permanent farmers market Downtown mitigates food deserts in the area and will support local businesses and farmers.

Third, including businesses on the site provides programming that increases activation. Activation is important because it increases public guardianship and makes a place safer. Activation is the key to creating a welcoming, safe, bustling atmosphere.

The last intent is to improve the ecological health of the site by implementing green infrastructure such as collecting roof rainwater, filtering it in a rain garden, and having a native plant pallet. The site aims to enhance the identity, economy, activity, and ecology of the Union Station Corridor.

Because of the amazing immediate architectural context, surrounding Downtown energy, and incoming stakeholders (Amtrack and BioMed Campus) the design strategy aims to leverage those sites by connecting to them. There is a clear line of sight connecting the north to south edges so that there is a curiosity to see what the other side holds and a sense of safety because one can analyze the whole site. To bring locals from Douglas Avenue to the south edge there is a community gathering lawn with a video board that can play movies or sporting games. The South Edge experience starts with visitors arriving from the Amtrak Station. They have a clear line of sight from the main staircase to the winery and Old Town.

The second connection made was the facades of the market and Union Station. The linear path includes overhead lighting that creates human scale and a sense of place where visitors will bounce between restaurants and shops. The facades of the market pavilion will also open completely when the weather is nice, creating an indoor-outdoor connection between the pavilion and the green space.

The third connection made involves the main entries of Union Station and The Ice House. Here lies another clear line of site that creates a central drop-off space and formal entry into the market. The connection is made by a colorful ground plane that includes a splash pad because water attracts people and creates a sense of arrival.

The last connection made is the inclusion of children and adult programming. The best strategy to explain this is the deck next to the playground. The vision is that adults visiting the Winery to the north could sit on the deck adjacent to the playground. The playground and lawn are also visible from the market, giving a variety of activities for different ages.

The identity of our site is an essential facet of it, as we need to create a destination to see that our site becomes active and people who come by Amtrak have a proper entrance. By utilizing fun and unique features like the steampunk playground or Windy Gateway, we created a unique and interesting place that distinguishes itself from its context while also utilizing industrial features and design motifs that are reminiscent of Wichita's industrious past, present, and future.

Picture this: A whimsical meadow gateway including steampunk-themed wind sculptures welcomes travelers to the Amtrak stop connected to Union Station Marketplace. This enchanting entryway transitions between the urban hustle and the natural beauty surrounding the transportation hub. These wind sculptures include features of gears, cogs, and brass elements, seamlessly integrating the steampunk theme with the surrounding natural landscape.

A whimsical steampunk-themed playground where imagination knows no bounds. As you approach, the first thing that captures your attention is the imaginative play features, including gears, cogs, and pipes. The playground also includes an interactive water play area where children can manipulate valves and levers to control water flow connecting to the splash pad at the Groove Hub. This adds a refreshing element to the play experience and introduces the concept of water power in a steampunk context.

In the heart of Wichita, there's very little ecological value, and we believe we can have some power over that. By providing canopy cover, natural grasses, and decreasing hardscape, we can begin to take steps towards a greener Wichita.

More native Kansas plants can be found at  https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/nativeplants.html 

The planting bed is strategically located along a pathway, providing a sensory-rich experience for those strolling by. To further enhance the experience, the native meadow bed is designed with an eco-friendly approach, incorporating sustainable landscaping practices. Mulched pathways and rain gardens capture and filter rainwater, promoting water conservation and preventing runoff. This native Kansas meadow planting bed is not just a visual delight but also serves as a living testament to the beauty and resilience of the local landscape, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the natural heritage of Wichita, Kansas grassland.

Our site features a market space, which is intended to be a year round market space to be utilized by vendors and consumers. This will obviously create a job market and revenue in this area, which will hopefully encourage the surrounding leasable spaces to also establish businesses and overall support this side of Wichita.

The market is a dynamic space, carefully curated to showcase a diverse array of vendors offering local and artisanal products. Stalls are set up along the spacious concourse, each with its own unique flair and offerings. Union Station Market is a treasure trove of discoveries waiting to be made, from handmade crafts and artwork to farm-fresh produce and gourmet treats. Special events and themed markets regularly occur at Union Station Market, adding extra excitement. Whether it's a seasonal festival, a craft fair, or a food-tasting event, there's always something new and delightful to experience.

In order for a site to be successful, it must be active. Our unique features, ecological additions, and market structure work well together and with our filling station and videoboard to make a fun and active site. In doing so, we intend for our site to be well accepted into downtown Wichita.

The lush green expanse of Leisure Lawn invites visitors to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. It features a deck and a large video board that transforms the space into a versatile venue for various events. The grass is soft underfoot, creating a comfortable space for picnics, outdoor games, or simply lounging in the sunshine. Tall, swaying trees provide pockets of shade, creating cozy nooks for those seeking respite from the sun.

The Filling Station Deck is strategically positioned to offer a panoramic view of a nearby playground. Families can relax on the deck, keeping a watchful eye on their children at play. Additionally, The Filling Station Deck has a variety of adjacent restaurants, creating a culinary hub for visitors.

Nestled in the heart of Kansas, a native meadow planting bed invites pedestrians into a serene and vibrant natural oasis. The planting bed is strategically located along a pathway, providing a sensory-rich experience for those strolling by. The meadow is composed of a carefully curated selection of native Kansas plants, reflecting the region's unique ecology.

The main entry to Union Station is where innovative design and urban functionality converge to create a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing space. As you approach Groove-Hub, the first thing that catches your eye is the artistic concrete design that includes a seasonal splash pad. The concrete features an AI-generated pattern, a fusion of modern aesthetics and geometric shapes, flowing lines, and vibrant colors.

The experience of arriving by train includes arriving at the Amtrak station and walking down the Windy Gateway toward Old Town

The experience arriving by car entails parking in the closest parking lots shown in dark blue

The experience walking towards the site is most accessible from Douglas Ave.

Market maintenance is achieved by the north drop-off and brought down the market promenade. Garbage pickup is accessed on the west edge by a driveway

Size: 2.1 Acres

Indoor Space: About 14,636 square feet of space.

Outdoor Space: About 76,839 square feet of outdoor space.

The Current defines itself by introducing new activities, market options, and ecological benefits to reinforce the Wichita identity at Union Station. An identity that we are sure will make Wichita proud now and as it grows in the future.

This material is not intended for retail sale and cannot be sold, duplicated, or published, electronically or otherwise, without the express written consent of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University. The purpose of this material is academic in nature and is intended to showcase the research, scholarship, and design work of the students.

For information about the student design proposals or landscape architecture, contact Associate Professor Blake Belanger, PLA, ASLA at belanger@ksu.edu or visit  https://apdesign.k-state.edu/larcp/la/ 

For information about K-State Technical Assistance to Brownfields, contact Senior Director Maggie Belanger at maggiejessie@ksu.edu or visit  https://www.ksutab.org/