Union / Patsaouras Plaza Busway Station

The Patsaouras Bus Plaza or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station and Pedestrian Bridge provides an easier and safer travel experience for LA Metro and Foothill Transit bus riders to access regionwide transit connections at Los Angeles Union Station. The BRT Station reduces the distance to Union Station from the existing bus station on Alameda Street and the B (Red) and D (Purple) Lines. The busway facility provides full amenities for commuters and drastically improves ridership safety, communication, and accessibility.

The bus station’s design features include a platform canopy, TAP vending machines, seating, lighting, closed-circuit TV surveillance, electronic message signs, ADA-compliant elevators, tactile pathway, and a pedestrian bridge between the platform and Patsaouras Plaza. Perforated stainless steel panels are hinged on the structure’s south facade, creating a surreal experience of sounds, shadow movement, and visual moire patterns. At night, the lighting in the bridge reveals patterns and silhouettes against illuminated surfaces inside the pedestrian bridge. Gensler collaborated directly with the local artist and proposed an approach that increases the size of the effect while shortening the length of the artwork, resulting in greater visual impact while saving substantial cost.