Airport/Transit: Best Project: RTD Civic Center Station

The renovation of the Civic Center Station not only updated key elements of the station’s infrastructure but also transformed the terminal into an iconic downtown building.

Photo courtesy of Mortenson

RTD Civic Center Station
Denver
Best Project

Owner: Regional Transportation District
Lead Architect: Perkins Eastman
General Contractor: Mortenson
Structural Engineer: Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineer/Architect of Record: SEH Inc.
MEP Engineer: The RMH Group Inc.
Landscape Architect: Goodbee & Associates Inc.
Acoustics: D.L. Adams Associates Inc.

A hub for 18 bus routes serving an average of 15,000 passengers a day, Civic Center Station is one of the Regional Transportation District’s busiest transit centers. It’s been part of downtown Denver’s landscape for more than three decades, but it had become outdated and was leaking. The renovation not only updated key elements of the station’s infrastructure, it also transformed the terminal into an iconic downtown building. The station is now enclosed in glass, and a grand staircase connects its upper and lower plazas. The fabric roof is an architectural gem that provides shelter.

The redesigned station is highly functional as well. It has been transformed into an open, safe and welcoming environment for transit users. The new structure will be easier to maintain and repair over the long term. Its capacity has expanded to nine bus bays, the concourse has been rebuilt and bus ramps extended. Building on a site used daily by 15,000 people meant intensive community relations. The key was to keep riders informed of temporary closures or route changes. The team worked closely with RTD to develop an extensive site plan and keep the public informed of any changes. The station remained active throughout construction, with temporary passenger shelters surrounding the jobsite. Facing a strict schedule, the team ensured commuters that the shelters would be needed only for a single winter.

For commuters and people living or working downtown, the station’s redevelopment has helped to revitalize one of Denver’s most heavily used public spaces.