Bionic led the urban design and planning strategy in collaboration with the development team to reposition this area into a vital and dense urban district rich with amenities, transit, and urban life. Located in downtown Oakland, Lake Merritt BART District creates a new district-scale center around a transit hub, park, plaza, and a mix of commercial and high-density residential development.

New mobility infrastructure is designed to prioritize people and create safe spaces for public life. This is accomplished through an overall decrease in vehicle speed and the addition of new modes of mobility, including bike lanes, rideshare pick-up/drop-off, and modern facilities for buses and trains.  Large sidewalks, shaded by street trees, accommodate flex zones for amenities such as bike parking, public seating, street lights, dog pads, and media installations.

The underutilized train station is reframed by the public plaza, groves of trees, pavilions, and a radial ground plane that connects the center to the edges that are activated with new ground-floor retail.