Warm Springs BART West Access Bridge and Plaza
Fremont, CA
The Warm Springs BART West Access Bridge and Plaza connect new neighborhoods, workplaces, and transit within Fremont’s growing Innovation District. Designed as an active urban gateway, the one-acre plaza functions as a flexible outdoor room with bold paving patterns, integrated seating, architectural lighting, and public art. It serves both as a community gathering space and as a seamless extension of the daily commute, anchoring the district with a strong sense of place.
Gates Studio’s landscape design for the plaza emphasizes functionality and placemaking, balancing safe multimodal circulation with engaging public amenities. Solar charging stations, bike racks, amphitheater seating, and vibrant orange acrylic panels create a lively, people-first environment that reflects the district’s innovation-driven character. Together, the bridge and plaza showcase how thoughtful landscape design can shape a connected, sustainable, and memorable public realm.
This project was completed in 2022 in partnership with: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the City of Fremont, Alameda County Transportation Commission, Union Pacific Railroad, Biggs Cardosa Associates (structural engineer), HNTB Corporation (bridge architect), and Shimmick Construction (construction contractor).
An Innovative Urban Plaza Linking People and Places
From Ideas to Realization
Pocket Park
Gateway Arch
Existing Conditions
Photosimulation
Built Project
Project Details
The patterned metal gateway arch creates a strong sense of arrival into the downtown, showcasing the City’s signature orange and City logo.
Birds eye view of E. 8th Street and Railroad Ave.
Incorporation of public art - vibrant porcelain panels on three sides of each column showcase artwork representing different aspects of Pittsburg’s history.
Outreach included a project logo, bilingual collateral, and pop-up workshops linking to community events (shown: Pittsburg High School football game)
Planting design matches the diagonal pattern across the entry from N. Parkside Drive
Geometric seating contrasts the circular designs on the hardscape
View of seating area from N. Parkside Drive
The parklet includes a preserved tree that provides shade and screening from the neighboring residents.