©All Rights Reserved, Phil Armstrong

Ludlow Train Viewing Platform

Ludlow, Kentucky

The 20’ high platform is supported by 10 steel columns. A steel stair at the south end wraps around the burnished concrete block elevator shaft. A wide, overhanging metal roof protects the platform from the sun and elements. Oversized concrete footings also act as a retaining wall against the hillside, allowing viewers to get as close to the train tracks as possible. The form is based on the old passenger train station platforms that were ubiquitous in small railroad towns throughout the country. The proportions, simple roof shape, and large overhangs speak to that style. Materials like weathering steel for the structural elements and exposed concrete for the platform and elevator shaft were inspired by the industrial history and bring a more modern feel to the whole structure. Warm wood on the railings and underside of the roof soften the material palette and relate to the traditional wood ties of the tracks.