Rutherford Station is a major GO transit stop in the city of Vaughan and is one of the many projects Metrolinx has recently completed to expand and improve public transit systems and services in the Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario.
The GO expansion aims to increase the frequency and number of GO trains in the system, reduce traffic congestion on the roads and transport people quickly and efficiently in a rapidly growing region.
This new six-story parking structure has 1910 parking spaces, 30 accessible spaces and 100 new secure bike parking spots within the structure.
Via a pedestrian bridge, the parking structure is directly connected to and acts as a backdrop to the station building. The parking structure, along with the station building, are GOLD Leed certified, and the structure incorporates digital displays and electrical vehicle charging systems.
The idea was to create a wave pattern and to have the fins at alternating and varying angles. The design concept was conceived by Strasman Architects Inc. Ten Plus was involved with EllisDon, the Project Manager, and was mandated to propose a final design that would meet the Consultant’s design criteria and the project’s budget.
The solution was based on the Ten Plus’ Model V100-PAR fin, which may be mounted at varying degrees of rotation to create a sense of motion as one passes by them and to place the fins at varying heights to create the wave design that was desired. To highlight the fins, Ten Plus also designed a continuous light cove along the perimeter of the structure above the fins.
Design intent and budget met with success.
On the design side, the goal was to mitigate the impact of an imposing concrete structure on the community. To this end, the structure was wrapped with vertical aluminum fins arranged to create a wave pattern on the façade, thereby adding texture and visual interest to the structure and to the rest of the site.
The fins go beyond aesthetics. They provide the important function of identifying and guiding passengers to the station.
Metrolinx calls the concept “intuitive wayfinding” and is an important feature at GO stations. It incorporates the use of signage, lighting and other design elements to guide patrons to the station and to enable them to navigate easily through the site and the station. It is considered an important feature at this station.
