Story

The ART Operations and Maintenance Facility is the new home to 155 Arlington Transit employees that serve 3 million riders annually. This facility serves as the headquarters for Arlington Transit’s leadership, bus maintenance hub, and parking. It boasts 7 bus maintenance bays, 1 wash bay, and 16 solar-connected battery charging stations for electric buses to help meet Arlington county’s 2030 Net Zero goal. In addition, it includes corporate offices, dispatch centers, training rooms, locker rooms and showers, an employee gym, and a series of employee lounges. Arlington County spared no expense in creating a space that is welcoming, comfortable and vibrant for their employees. Built on the remnants of an old tow yard and parking lot, Arlington County tapped Stantec to design a building that will not only go beyond the means of serving Arlington Transit but also improve the old industrial nature of the neighborhood. Stantec achieved this through a complex, but aesthetically pleasing building exterior consisting of curtain walls, brick precast panels, CMU columns, metal panels and Parasoleil screen systems. The interior was built with the mechanics and drivers in mind. It includes unique aspects such as a radiant floor heating system for the shop floor, 2-story parts lift, an overhead crane, and a central compressed air, fluid, and grease delivery system that serves all the maintenance bays. Stantec designed a vibrant interior to challenge the idea of a typical maintenance facility, that incorporates wall coverings, bright colors, terrazzo floors, and glass partitions. To top it all off, a green roof was installed on the 3rd floor to give the employees an outdoor space to relax in. As part of Arlington County’s 2030 Net Zero vision, 955 solar panels have been installed on the roof, parking canopy and parking garage to serve the building’s power consumption. Building such a facility came with its challenges. With neighboring 24/7 businesses and an active stream running through the jobsite, logistics had to be thoughtfully planned out. Daily briefings to our neighbors on major activities were key to managing construction, while not disrupting the neighboring businesses. Coordinating with Arlington County and the Army Corp of Engineers, we installed a pump to divert water from the stream floor and walls for repairs. A significant part of this project was the electric bus charging infrastructure. This posed a challenge because the system was not fully designed yet, but through coordination between the design team, Turner, and the electrical contractor, we were able to install the necessary underground pathways that would connect to the new charging systems. A missed easement application also put the schedule at risk, we overcame this challenge through an acceleration of the critical path trades. With consistent neighboring truck traffic and 395 within an arm's reach, we had to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of our trade partners. Spotters, pedestrian lanes, material tie-downs, machine lifts and controlled access zones were all instrumental in achieving a safe jobsite.