Vail, CO / 2010
ARC International Wildlife Crossing
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In 2010, David Rubin, then partner at Olin, led the international design collaboration of Buro Happold, London, Explorations Architecture, Paris, and Applied Ecological Services, Philadelphia, in a proposal for a modular, adaptable wildlife crossing – one capable of being deployed across the nation and under a variety of circumstances by Departments of Transportation in any state. The vision, “Wild-(><)ing”, is based on a donut-like toroid shape from which unique configurations can be selected for any site. Into the resultant “pringle” form, a grid of adaptable and reusable diamond-shaped modules are inserted, containing landscape elements which, in their positioning, establish ecotones familiar to the mega-fauna in need of safe crossing, creating a feeling of “normalcy”. The result is an iconic and adaptable crossing that fosters connectivity in animal migratory patterns and separation from economically important transportation corridors.