SmART Stop #2 Bus Shelter

Community, art and equity aren’t often the top priorities when designing a bus shelter.

Public transportation is a key driver of economic opportunity in lower-income neighborhoods. While nearly every person who lives in an urban environment stands at a bus at some point in their life, this vital piece of our transit system is not usually designed with the wellbeing of its users in mind.

Luckett & Farley architects set out to change that, working with Louisville’s Vision Russell Neighborhood Initiative to design an equitable and ideal bus stop that:

• Maximized shade when it’s hot and sun when it’s cold
• Provided comfort and shelter
• Served as art, not an eyesore
• Supported the community it serves
• Improved neighborhood safety
• Promoted sustainability

The SmART Stop #2 sits at a vibrant intersection outside the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage on a street named after famous Louisvillian Muhammad Ali. This project was part of a collaborative effort by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority to create and implement a dynamic plan for the historically underserved neighborhood.

Luckett & Farley architects spent time talking with bus riders and collecting community input from residents before creating the outside-the-box design. The final bus stop, which won the American Institute of Architects Kentucky’s Merit Award for Small Projects in 2020, reflected that feedback, providing utility, comfort, and beauty. And it went beyond that, incorporating a green roof to capture rainwater and reintroduce nature to the heat island. The SmART Stop #2 mitigates heat by allowing wind to blow through and is oriented to ensure shade was maximized during the hottest months of the year.

The AIA Kentucky said, "SmART Stop #2 captured the attention of the jury with a design guided by a synthesis of function and ecological purpose. Bus stops are an important part of public transportation infrastructure, and this design elevates the typology while sitting comfortably in the neighborhood. The jury appreciated how the lean material palette reinforces the conceptual clarity and provides a sculptural expression of the bus stop.”