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Background:
The Depot
Kiosk was developed to raise awareness of the redevelopment
of the Depot Avenue and in particular, the Depot Park at Depot
Avenue and Main Street. There are many issues in the area, particularly
environmental concerns and opportunities for neighborhood redevelopment.
This area is a dynamic part of Gainesville’s past and future.
It was the hub of railroad activity in the development of Gainesville
in the 1800’s. It is currently an eclectic mix of this industrial
history, with several historic train warehouses and the Old
Gainesville Depot, the Gainesville Regional Utility’s John R.
Kelly Power Plant, and industrial land uses. It is also a multi-modal
transportation hub with the existing Depot Rail to Trail and
the proposed Gainesville Regional Transit System Transportation
Center, in the heart of the area. The environmental forces at
work include the Sweetwater Branch, the contamination in the
Depot Park site south of Depot Avenue, and the conflicts which
have occurred between residential neighborhoods and industrial
facilities along Depot Avenue. A significant structure in the
project site is the Old Gainesville Depot building which is
being planned for rehabilitation and renovation as a community-serving
facility. The Powell Center for Construction and Environment is currently
working with the US EPA’s Sustainable Development Challenge
Grant program in assisting the City of Gainesville in planning
for the future of this area. The Center seeks to educate about,
and implement sustainability principles in the Gainesville/Alachua
County community. It was a partner in the realization of the
“Bicyclist Safety Memorial,” adjacent to the Depot Rail to Trail
and the Depot building constructed in November, 1997.
Depot Kiosk/Sculpture:
The purposes
of this kiosk are to provide a place for educational materials
related to the redevelopment and environmental remediation underway
in this area and for the sculpture/kiosk itself to be an interpretative
environmental educational structure that is culturally appropriate,
contains places to sit, have a drink of water, be in the shade,
enjoy a pleasant space, interact with elements of the structure.
It must relate to its context as a “gateway” feature that is
visually stimulating and functional. The final design of the
winning proposal was realized by the designer in conjunction
with the City of Gainesville and the Powell Center for Construction and Environment. Minor revisions to meet functional criteria
for displaying information were made at that time. The Depot
Kiosk is located along the Depot Avenue Rail to Trail. Construction
for the Kiosk took place from - 3/27/00 to 4/21/00 and Ribbon
Cutting occured on Earth Day, April 22, 2000.
Kiosk photos here
Criteria
for the Design:
- Self-site
selection in Department of Transportation’s Depot Rail-Trail
or City’s Depot Avenue public right of way (ROW) between SE
4th St and S. Main Street and north to Depot Avenue. This
includes the land between the Depot Rail to Trail and Depot
Avenue east of the Old Gainesville Depot building.
- Interactive
– with children, with natural rhythms, sun path, seasonal
- Expression
and use of water
- Shade
and rain protection for people and materials
- Culturally,
architecturally appropriate
- “Green”
materials maximum reused and recycled content materials, non-toxic
- Solar
energy - self-powered (lighting, other such as water feature)
- Native
landscape demonstration
- Community-buildable
- Low
maintenance and high durability
- Vandalism
resistant
- Size
– no more than 10’ wide x no higher than 16’, x variable length,
area includes kiosk, seating and landscape.
- Display
area(s)
- Brochure
holders and board(s) for maps
- Kid-safe
- Interpret
environmental themes of industrial pollution, stormwater runoff
and watersheds, urban streams, railroad history, energy production,
alternative transportation
- Appropriate
as prototype signage grammar
- Americans
with Disabilities Act aPCCEssible
- Budget
for construction - $5,000 funded by the Powell Center for Construction and Environment (the City of Gainesville will contribute water
and power aPCCEss as needed)
- Place
for 911 cell phone installation
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