The city of Providence has decided to upgrade their public train station building with the intention of making it a more prominent public space which will become a part of the city’s entrance.  The design of a public space like this must take into consideration pedestrians as well as the way in which the building integrates with the urban fabric.  Placed in front of the Capital lawn, the program requires  the addition of a hotel while the site demands a low profile yet captivating design.

Fitting the program into a long narrow gesture creates a tunnel-like public space which celebrates the moment as one crosses the tracks and creates a dramatic experience for visitors entering the city by train.  The hotel components are fit into the narrow linear strips alongside the tracks, while the more unique programmatic elements are located underneath the white fabric shell which spills out onto the site.