Vibrant metal ceiling system connects with neighborhood
With more than 67,000 regular monthly visitors, Phoenix’s Maryvale community is home to the busiest transit station in the City of Phoenix Public Transit Department. Completed in November 2015, the new Desert Sky Transit Centeris an updated public transportation hub that provides patrons with a safe and comfortable station.
Located on 4.2 acres, the new transit station is across from the original facility, which was in the parking lot of the Desert Sky Mall. During the day, the original facility was subject to intense sunlight, while at night, the poorly lit structure often faced security issues.
The updated public transportation hub provides patrons with a safe and comfortable station that contributes to the neighborhood’s colorful aesthetic. The state-of-the-art facility also resolves the city’s security concerns. According to architect Dev Pawar, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, principal, at Phoenix-based Architectural Resource Team Inc., the project goals were two-fold. “The goal was to design a single structure, instead of having individual shelters for each of the seven bus routes, and to provide shade for commuters,” he says.
In addition, there were several other important goals, Pawar says, which included pedestrian safety and making sure that connectivity with the school and the mall were maintained. “I think the biggest challenge was making sure that there was a safe environment during construction for the two schools just west of the property and the mall, which is east of the property,” he says. “We had constant meetings with both the schools and the mall during construction, and made sure that the sidewalk connections were maintained in a safe fashion. Nothing was disturbed by the construction going on.”
The new transit center features a large canopy structure that covers the passenger platform and bus bays, providing much-needed relief from the sun. The design incorporates a bus staging area, transit/security building, bicycle racks and storage, hardscape and landscape features, solar panels, covered parking, site signage, public art, traffic signals, and required improvements along 79th Avenue and Thomas Road.
Security for the light fixtures at the station was important because of past vandalism. “We could have surface-mounted the light fixtures below the ceiling and encase them in a protective shield,” he says, “but the concept was to put the light fixtures above and beyond everybody’s reach.”
To achieve this, Hunter Douglas Architectural Products Inc., Norcross, Ga., supplied its Deep Box 2 exterior ceiling system in a reflective metallic green color that creates synergy with neighboring structures. The approximately 13,000, 1-inch by 16-foot metal panels feature recessed LED light fixtures that provide excellent visibility at night, deterring vandalism and enhancing persona safety. “The beauty of the Hunter Douglas system,” Pawar adds, “is that you can easily remove the panels so maintenance can come in, remove three or four strips, and replace the light bulbs.”
A portion of the project is dedicated to public art. Working with the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture‘s public art program, local artist Mary Lucking designed abstract patterns in water-jet cut painted steel panels to invite people’s eyes to wander while waiting for their bus. The installation includes 5 feet by 620 feet of fascia, 3 feet by 160 feet of fence and a 12-foot by 18-foot by 6-foot bus shelter.
The new, centralized transit station serves approximately 804,000 people annually, and has already become a source for public pride in the community. “This was a very successful project under budget and on schedule,” says Pawar. “It’s going to serve as a catalyst for the area, hopefully bringing in development and good design.”
Desert Sky Transit Center, Phoenix
Award: 2015 Construction Excellence Silver Award in the ceilings category for the West region from Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA)
Owner: City of Phoenix
Public art: City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture public art program; Mary Lucking
Architect: Architectural Resource Team Inc., Phoenix
General contractor: Haydon Building Corp., Phoenix
Acoustical/ceiling contractor: TP Acoustics Inc.,Phoenix
Civil/landscape: Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., Phoenix
Electrical: CR Engineers Inc., Fountain Hills, Ariz.
Mechanical/plumbing: Henderson Engineers Inc., Phoenix
Manufacturers rep: Lanton Associates LLC, Tempe, Ariz.
Public art fabricator: MarZee Water Jet Services, Phoenix
Signage/wayfinding: JRC Design, Phoenix
Metal ceiling system: Hunter Douglas Architectural Products Inc., Norcross, Ga.,www.hunterdouglasarchitectural.com