Photo: Inca Engineers
The new $8.5 million Transit Center in the heart of the City of Burien includes 8-bus bays, layover spaces, a driver comfort station, a supervisors office, and storage areas. Pervious concrete pavement, a pivotal environmental innovation, was used throughout the transit center as a key component to the comprehensive stormwater system. Burien Transit Center’s new stormwater facilities are located beneath landscaping, pavement and platform areas. Rather than occupy space on the street level, this inventive storm water drain system maximizes transit operations in a confined space. This layering technique helped reduce real estate costs for the client. The design team used Compost Storm Filter (CSF) leaf media, a highly-organic material, as the filter cartridge for the stormwater drainage.
Each identical windscreen glass is glazed in an unconventional system and orientation, yet still supports the one-person field replacement operation the agency uses on all of its bus shelters. Platforms and architectural elements were modeled in a BIM application (Autodesk Revit) from early design. VIA used the BIM model during construction to respond to requests for information, resolve interpretations of details and test proposed alternates.
The security design uses new technology with full pan tilt zoom surveillance cameras with a direct video feed connecting the Burien Transit Center to King County Metro’s greater security system. The halogen lighting configuration complements the security cameras, creating a safe atmosphere for patrons and service personnel. Panic stations, a new amenity previously unavailable to transit customers in Burien, are located around the site.
Prior to the opening of the Burien Transit Center, bus operators waited to begin their next route blocks away from the starting location. Now, layovers can be spent onsite at the transit center. With this in mind, the site was outfitted with a comfort station which allows bus operators to use restroom facilities, check routes, or connect with their base. The new layover system increases efficiency and reduces costs to King County Metro Transit.
Key Players
Pellco Construction, Inc. Mountlake Terrace, Wash.
Civil and Transportation Engineering: INCA Engineers, Inc., Bellevue
Architecture/Urban Design: VIA Architecture Inc., Seattle
Landscape Architecture: Karen Kiest Landscape Architecture, Seattle
Mechanical/Electrical Engineering: Tres West Engineers, Inc., Tacoma
Geotechnical Engineering: Milbor-Pita, Bellevue, Wash.
Structural Engineering: ABKJ Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, Seattle
