University of Puerto Rico Underground Heavy Rail Station, Tren Urbano, San Juan, Puerto Rico

AVA’s Role: Anil Verma Associates, Inc. (AVA) served as Architect-of-Record, Urban Designer, and Inspector-of-Record as part of the Kiewit/Kenny/Zachry (KKZ) Joint Venture construction team for the design-build contract encompassing the University of Puerto Rico Underground Station. AVA’s responsibilities included architecture, urban design, and construction management services.

Description: The Rio Piedras contract consisted of two stations and tunnels for the underground segment of the first Rapid Transit Rail Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  This Design-build contract within this heavy rail transit system is a Federal Transit Administration Demonstration Project. 

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Station is a cut-and-cover station with a center platform and entrances at both ends. One entrance provides access from street level to a concourse mezzanine containing ticketing functions and then to the platform. This entrance was sensitively designed within the context of the surrounding historic walls and buildings. The second entrance provides direct access from the street-level headhouse, which also contains ticketing functions, to the platform. Designed as a modern glass, steel, and concrete structure, this entrance complements the newer university buildings. Ancillary equipment spaces are located beyond the platform ends and at the mezzanine levels. AVA reconfigured the entire station to improve the ventilation system and consolidate the size of the cut-and-cover station box. Because the station is located within the historic section of the University of Puerto Rico campus, its design required careful consideration of historic preservation and urban-design issues.