A New Aesthetic & Contemporary Layer

Michigan Central Railway Bridge

Alma Cordova, Natasha Dorey & Chloe Richer

Willowbank School of Restoration Arts | March 10, 2017

Location

Research

● This steel arch bridge replaced a cantilever

bridge in 1925

● Designed by William Perry Taylor; chief

engineer was J. L. Delming of the Michigan

Central Railway and consulting engineer

was Olaf Hoff

● Purchased by City of Niagara Falls in 2001

● Earlier plan was to demolish the bridge by

May 2012

Social History

Documentation

Documentation

Values

Historical Associative Natural

• Bridge & infrastructure

construction

• Steel, historic construction

methods & form

• Railway history/activity

• Canada-US relationship

(trade, social)

• Storytelling

• View of Niagara River

• Connection with

recreational trails

Comparative Examples

● Dynamic & creative (micro-spaces)

● Different textures & shapes (natural materials)

● New forms with gazebo

● Atmosphere (relaxed, natural)

● Balance between environment & industrial/railway

● Colour & harmony

● Light & shadow with trees

● Proportion in heights and widths

Aesthetic Approach - Analogy

Preliminary

Concept

of Site

• Interpretation

(signage)

• Stairs

• Gazebo

• Interlocking walkway

• Layers

• Viewpoints

Ideas for Contemporary Layer