So you're going to build a large station broken up like this:
Central portion: habitat area, most likely a dome or series of rooms, containing RP things like cabins, mess room, and control stations.
Platform 1: Shipyard area/docking for -A- large ship, or else a splitter type platform that splits into two paths, then four, then eight or whatnot until developing into MANY docking bays. This would contain large hangars, USD-1 compliant docking ports extended a long ways out, and/or a large shipyard enclosure for construction/repairs.
Platform 2: Factory section, may contain ACTUAL factory assemblies or just "heavy machinery"-looking shield and power generation capsules/supplies.
Platform 3: Faction zone. Advertisements, perhaps a large room with display booths around for factions to set up a representative or something. May also contain additional RP things - like a weapons scanner so nobody starts or continues a faction war.
Platform 4: Rules/admin office zone. Decorations and info panels reign supreme. Informs people what the rules are, gives people a place to go for admins (if chat is limited in range at any time in development), and gives you a place to show off your impressive decorations skills.
This might be an interesting build to do. How large would you like it? I have ideas floating around already... couple large rings above and below the four platforms ... containing turrets and such ... USD-1 ports across the station ... large, cylindrical central tower, containing shield blocks, power blocks, and nasty surprises for invaders. Could be quite a decent little station. Unless you want it bigger. At which point... we add more rings, a second level of large "habitation" blocks ... and perhaps docks for AI controlled Station Security Frigates? Perhaps corvette size would be more appropriate, but honestly, if someone's trying to murder the spawn station (or any other, non-indestructible station built on this design), then they mean business, and dangit, I'm not gonna be the designer who doesn't include some epic-looking security "drones" of sufficient size to make these guys think twice... lol.
For your automatic transport system, just use "turbolifts" - small elevator-like rooms with a teleporter assembly inside. They look cool, take up little space, and honestly, why walk?