Shelburne Corridor

2010 Fall Semester

Third Year 

Architectural Design Studio

Critics: Matt Lutz, Tom Laythem

Fertile Crescent

The Route 7 corridor through Shelburne, VT has become a plight to the community. It is the classic case of the abandoned strip mall. The architectural design studio was approached by the Town of Shelburne to come up with proposals to improve the current conditions of the Route 7 corridor in Northern Vermont.

This proposal would dramatically alter the existing site over time. It is an effort to generate a fellowship between the through-traveler and pedestrian. Through-traffic is unimpeded - as an elevated parkway weaves around Route 7. Under the parkway is mixed use space - work, play, live. Other design elements include prefabricated concrete and steel components, a Mag Lev train connecting to Burlington, automated car storage towers for converting through-travelers into pedestrian, and an amphitheater for summer events and winter sledding. This project is about being true to the identity of place - even if it’s identity is a place between places.

The architectural design studio’s proposals were subject to public view in the town hall for one week prior to presentations. Five projects were chosen by the Shelburne Planning Committee for public presentation. Public voting during the one week viewing period yielded a tie for people’s choice for presentation. The proposal you see here was one of the five chosen by the committee and one of two projects tied for people’s choice.