The Rapid Laker Line Operations Center

Project Details

Client

The Rapid

Location

Grand Rapids, MI

Scale

61,000 square feet

Cost

$16,037,000

Completion

2020

The Rapid had secured funding for the new BRT line to the Allendale campus of GVSU. They needed an operations center that would be capable of storing, washing, and maintaining a fleet. This fleet was brand new for The Rapid as they had never had 60’ long articulated vehicles. The maintance bays needed to support these new vehicles including light maintenance, tire changes, vehicle washing, and parts inventory. The entire fleet is now CNG-powered, so detection in all areas of the building was critical for safety. Using lessons from the Wealthy Operations Center, this building is clear span, providing lots of natural daylight, providing good traffic flow within the space, and maintaining good separation of people and vehicles. A dispatch office was provided with direct network connection to the primary operations center, about a mile away. Tight site constraints ruled on this project. The location of the property was critical because of the CNG fueling station. The building needed to conform to the shape of the site for it to be feasible. Learning from past projects, we used recessed reflectors in the concrete to help drivers understand critical angles of approach as they enter the building.

Environments

Community
Transit