Niles Pioneer Landing
Senior Capstone Project
Term: Winter 2021, 5th year
Site: Niles Main Street
Location: Fremont, CA
Located in the Niles neighborhood of Fremont, CA rests a quaint, little Main Street full of historical character and landmarks. The community is home to a historic rail station and the first West Coast motion picture company, Essanay Studios. Within this studio, popular silent film stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Broncho Billy Anderson filmed some of their most famous movies.
However, over the years, the Niles community has faced multiple threats in altering its unique character into a modernized look. With this project, Niles Pioneer Landing is a living history Main Street that will honor its roots as the home of pioneers in motion.
The project will utilize the current Niles guidelines, narrative landscapes, environmental storytelling, and the placemaking framework in the design process. The site is transformed into a pedestrian-only experience that mirror the simpler times and inspire the next generation of creative visionaries. It will also bring a new meaning to the area as a beacon of hope that greatness can come from anywhere no matter how big or small.
