After opening the
nation's first LEED-certified public transit station in 2004 and introducing Grand Rapids' first hybrid electric bus in 2004, The Rapid continues on its route to creating a greener city with its plan for
LEED certification of a $32 million expansion of its Wealthy Operations Center.
The operations center (333 Wealthy St. SW) is the hub for all maintenance of the bus fleet as well as the operations administrative offices. Green features of the 280,000-square-foot addition include access to natural light to reduce electricity, a green roof on a portion of the building and the addition of a half-dozen wind turbines to supply some of the facility's electrical needs.
"Virtually all vehicle maintenance is done here, so we're expanding the number of (service) bays so we can work on more busses at one time," says Brian Pouget, operations director. "We're doubling the size of the bus storage area, which is the main impetus for the expansion. It was built in 1977 for 100 busses, but with 125 busses now, we've run out of space and we're looking to the future when we'll house 170."
The operations administrative staff recently moved into the office portion of the new building while the remainder is still under construction. Large windows allow in natural light to reduce the staff's need to turn on electric lights and the windows provide a view of a courtyard outside the reception area.
The facility includes a training room for new bus drivers and an employee fitness room with adjacent lockers and showers.
The Christman Company is the construction manager. The building was designed by
Progressive AE, who also designed The Rapid's Rapid Central Station.
Source: Brian Pouget, The Rapid
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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