The Pueblo Train Station
Pueblo, Colorado — Spring 2025

The Pueblo Train Station focuses on travel to a common point while still maintaining architectural interest. The program required a large space for guests to wait for their train, a ticketing booth, a gift shop, and a museum to highlight the history of Pueblo. Pueblo was subject to a life-altering flood, so it was important to keep that in mind when designing. I wanted the travel to the tracks to feel elevating, and I wanted the lower floors to feel safe. I did this by using two main structures- a heavy concrete system below the forum stairs, and a light steel structure above the stair.

The concrete columns are also turned on a 45 degree angle, as well as the fire stairs and elevator shafts. The city of Pueblo’s historical grid is on this angle, so deliberately shifting aspects in this way ties back into the pre-flooded area. The fountain in the center of the ground floor is also a way to acknowledge and remember the flood, the community’s dedication to rebuilding, and the strength they had to do so. The fountain’s water is sourced from the rain: the green roofs gather the rain through a series of gutters that run to the ground and filter before being brought back to the fountain.

My design focuses on using light and materiality to move train passengers through the station. I created a clear design that makes the final destination clear and easy to maneuver. This is done through the very large forum staircase that acts as the primary mode of transportation. With a lack of corridors and traditional rooms, the location of the tracks is extremely easy to find. The forum step is the heart of the project; all of the decisions stem from that shape. The light and materiality allow for the forum to be emphasized, and work to move people through the station. The use of windows in the areas of light steel (and dark, heavy walls in the concrete column grid) help to accentuate areas of more travel versus more loitering/meandering.