“Most men who have really lived have had, in some share, their great adventure. This railway is mine.”
James Hill, founder, Great Northern Railway
Site
Carnation
DATE
2021
PROJECT PHASE
Construction and Fabrication
The custom kinetic railway broke ground in 2019 with site prep and construction of the railroad consisting of reclaimed rails from the Great Northern Railway, custom rail ties and over 27 dump truck loads of ballast to secure a solid foundation. Two-years later after structural engineering, detailed shop drawings, building the project team and finalizing details, the construction is underway for the kinetic studio rail car. The majority of the kinetic rail car is prefabricated off-site with a a mix of structural and architectural steel. Historically, the railroad caboose was the “office of the railroad,” serving as a working space and quarters for the train crew to manage the work of the railroad. The studio consists of two-stories, a first story designed minimally to serve as a workstation and office environment whereas the second story accessed by a ladder to a “cupola-esque” space is focused around research, a library and a higher elevation and view over the forest and site for contemplation and connecting. The studio leverages many technologies including structurally insulated panels, kinetic engineering systems for mobility, innovative electrical systems and more.
