Septa Pedestian Transit Concourses

LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA

OWNER: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

START DATE: 07/2015

END DATE: Phase One: completed on 03/2019; Phase 2 in design

Sowinski Sullivan has been tasked with visioning and leading the design of SEPTA's underground pedestrian concourses. The SEPTA Pedestrian Concourses in Center City Philadelphia are a major urban transportation amenity. These underground passageways and chambers not only provide access to the transit system but also offer 500,000 square feet of walkable corridors sheltered from urban traffic and inclement weather. Working with a team that includes Penn Praxis, Penn Civic Engagement, and others, Sowinski Sullivan has developed a master plan, a series of visioning designs, and detailed designs for implementation over the next six years through the agencies' general design contracts. The goals for these improvements are to enhance safety and security, create a sense of geographic place and connection to the street, improve wayfinding and navigability, bring natural light and ventilation into the concourses, use durable and easily maintained finishes, and establish branding for the concourse.