MEP/FP engineering for the Charlottesville Area Transit Operations Center supports a multi-building facility serving administration, bus maintenance, fueling, and operations for the city’s public transit system. The design incorporates high-performance systems, including a ground-source heat pump system, water reuse strategies, and energy-efficient lighting and controls to reduce energy and water consumption while supporting demanding fleet operations. These integrated systems contributed to the project’s LEED Gold certification and provide a durable, efficient facility that supports reliable transit service for the community.
2RW provided MEP and fire protection engineering, LEED energy modeling for the new operations center. Sustainable design elements include a rainwater harvesting system which captures 576,000 gallons of rainwater, recycles 936,000 gallons of water through the vehicle wash facility, and saves 52,000 gallons of water with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures. The center also features hybrid and electric vehicle charging stations for employee and non-revenue service vehicles.
The multi-faceted strategy for water conservation will save 1.56 million gallons of water each year, enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools. Estimated energy savings are 30% less compared to baseline code-compliant building.
VMDO Architects
Thrive Architecture, P.C.
W.M. Jordan Company
2008 – Go Green Design Merit Award, James River Green Building Council
