Student Work
1∕5
Title
GlowLining
Project Description
Bridgeport’s Park Avenue corridor contains a dynamic piece of infrastructure—the crossing of I-95 and the railroad. The space under the overpass, at the point of crossing, is dynamic and grand but underused. In its current condition, it divides the corridor between north/south and east/west, putting the residents in the area at a cultural and economic disadvantage. One of the biggest constituents in this neighborhood are single mothers who our project aims to serve by connecting them to the wider city by reclaiming the space under the overpass. Our goal is to use minimal means to create maximum effect—our first intervention in the site is simply to use what’s already there—truck access. We’ll use this accessibility to supply more fresh food to the families in the area who currently have to travel almost two miles to the nearest grocery store. Partnering with local grocers, we’ve instituted the federal double-up-bucks program under the highway to encourage food vendors to come and local families to buy. Soon after, ground patterns designed in partnership with Wilson and Rashid will be implemented, reclaiming the space for the neighborhood. Lights will be installed on the existing ceiling infrastructure using LED lights we designed to clip on easily, and ground lights will illuminate the columns from below. In the final stages of the project, certain areas of the site will be excavated to infill a stormwater retention area, which can function as a park in dry times. The space under the overpass will be illuminated, providing a sense of safety to the families nearby, and a sense of curiosity from those passing by on the train- creating a positive image for Bridgeport. The Glowline is scalable and multipliable, and can be implemented under infrastructure sites across Bridgeport, and eventually, infrastructure sites across the United States.