Longfellow Bridge Staircase

Spring 2021

Class Project

The Longfellow Bridge in Boston is not directly accessible from the Charles River Esplanade path which runs beneath it. This single-landing staircase helps solve this access problem within a small footprint along the riverside path, allowing pedestrians to ascend to the bridge above without having to leave the path. Integrated into the support structure are glass panels etched with the profiles of the iconic "salt shaker" towers which flank the bridge. The glass panels are lit from below, illuminating the etched designs to glow at night, while the open design still allows an expansive view from the on the way up. A 3d-printed model was fabricated to demonstrate this etched glass effect, demonstrated using an acrylic analogue.