According to recovery.gov, North Carolina has so far received $3.3 billion in federal stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $11.1 million of those funds have been invested in to a new transit maintenance and operations facility in Raleigh that is scheduled to be completed in April.

A little over a year ago city leaders broke ground on the operations administration building and bus maintenance facility off of Poole Road in east Raleigh. It will replace the 30 year old CAT facility on South Blount Street, which was designed to handle about half of what the facility current accommodates.

The growth of the United States has been marked and fueled by developments such as rail travel and the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. It seems appropriate that the funds allocated by the United States government in the 21st century in Raleigh are also toward the same end – increasing the efficiency and capabilities of a transportation network.

We are unfortunately behind our municipal neighbor Charlotte in terms of light rail travel, but advancing bus transportation is the next best thing.

When LEED Matters

I’ve recently disparaged LEED certification as meaningless when firms tout while being part of a teardown project. However, in this project LEED certification is quite significant for Raleigh: It will be the first integrated administration and maintenance facility of its kind in the nation to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

This is the highest level of certification when it comes to environmentally responsible and sustainable architecture.

Outside view of Williard Ferm Architects on Coxe Ave

The Firm Behind the Project

Williard Ferm Architects is in charge of construction. The firm is currently  located in the former home/office of Harwell Hamiton Harris, the late legendary modern architect and former professor at the NCSU School of Design. Harris’ former home and office is in Raleigh’s Modern Corridor.

Outside view of Williard Ferm Architects on Coxe Ave

With regard to their commitment to preserving architectural history, the firm notes that:

Williard Ferm Architects operates out of the historic former office and home of Harwell Hamilton Harris. The firm purchased the property in 2006 and conducted substantial repairs including the replacement of all the windows, the reconstruction of a water damaged wall and re-stuccoing the entire exterior. We stayed as true to HHH’s original intent as possible including matching the original interior paint colors. We opened the new/old doors for business in January 2007 and have been working and growing ever since.

The buildings that make up the facility are quite attractive, and construction is set to be complete some time in April.

Further Reading:

• City of Raleigh: Transit Operations Facility (RaleighGov)
• Raleigh breaks ground on new transit operations center (WRAL)
• Raleigh gets $11.6 million in stimulus cash (Triangle Business Journal)
• Williard Ferm Architects (Official site)
• Harwell Hamiton Harris, FAIA (Triangle Modernist Houses)