The Westgate Framework offers the City of Beaverton a balanced strategy to expand and transform a vacant lot into a vibrant, walkable neighborhood. Our plan for the largest site in the Creekside District plans for success over time by responding to the surrounding urban form, natural landscape, and the nearby Beaverton Central Station MAX light rail station.
We began with a primary goal to create a pedestrian-oriented environment. First, we consolidated parking away from the public realm and outlined a network of walkable and bikeable trails that extend and connect with surrounding paths. With art as a signature wayfinding system, the continuous network of paths unites the development and gives the community a distinct identity. Bike storage at the MAX station and bike repair shops will also support the culture of bike ridership.
Communities are more resilient when they can see and access their natural landscape and open public spaces. A continuous greenway in along Beaverton Creek provides this visibility and connection to the district’s key ecological feature.
Streets in the Westgate development are distributed according to their character and function, with major traffic routes placed around the district with spacious sidewalks, and calmer streets with limited traffic in the center. Public art and architecture will serve as character landmarks that signal the entry points that draw people in from the main streets. At the heart of the site is a strong “100% corner,” meaning active ground floors at all four corners of an intersection will provide direct physical and visual connection to the MAX station, and access to hotel, residential, office, and art center uses.
The coordinated design of Westgate’s art, amenities, and transit aims to bring people in. Public realms, greenways, and interpretive trails (we hope) will bring them together.