Transit Operations Center Receives Highest LEED Certification

Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs
Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

For more information: Gil Johnson, Construction Management Division, 919-744-9363; or David Eatman, Transit Administrator, 919-996-4040

Feb. 22, 2013

Transit Operations Center Receives Highest LEED Certification

The City of Raleigh’s state-of-the-art Transit Operations Center has attained LEED Platinum certification, the highest rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council for meeting high standards of environmentally sustainable construction. The Transit Operations Center is among the largest projects nationally to join the elite group of integrated facilities to achieve LEED Platinum status.

The Green Building Council notified the City this week that the Transit Operations Center has earned enough credits for LEED Platinum certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction ---- certified, silver, gold and platinum. These levels correspond to the number of credits accrued in five green design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resource, and indoor environmental quality.

“Everyone at Capital Area Transit (CAT) is very excited the Transit Operations Center has earned LEED Platinum certification,” City Transit Administrator David Eatman said. “The design and function of the facility has improved employee productivity while using green building practices and reducing our energy consumption.”

The $24 million Transit Operations Center opened in May 2011 on 23 acres at 4104 Poole Road, just east of Interstate 440 beltline. It was built to replace CAT’s outdated operations facility on Blount Street.

The Transit Operations Center consists of a nearly 27,400-square-foot, two-story operations administration building; a single-story maintenance building of 56,000 square feet, with 14 service bays; a 7,500-square-foot bus wash; a two-lane fueling depot; and a bus shelter on Poole Road for CAT riders. The operations center can accommodate a 125-bus fleet, with the ability for expansion to 200 buses.

Just as impressive as the physical layout of the Transit Operations Center are its many green building sustainable features. These include:

• Geothermal wells that provide high efficiency heating and cooling;
• Radiant floor heating in the Maintenance Building which helps maintain optimum thermal conditions;
• Reflective white roofs and concrete to minimize the heat-island effect, reducing demand on air conditioning systems;
• Water-saving plumbing fixtures and rainwater collection cisterns that minimize water usage from the municipal system;
• Rapidly renewable and long-life durable local materials such as wool-blend carpeting. The flooring, cabinetry and countertops are made from bamboo, a more sustainable and more durable product; and,
• Low-volatile organic compound paint and adhesives and frequent fresh air exchanges that improve the air quality within the facility.

Though the Transit Operations Center has only been open for less than two years, it has received national and regional recognition. In addition to the LEED Platinum certification, the complex was named Project of the Year in 2012 by the American Public Works Association and has received the Excellence in Construction and Merit Awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas. Other honors given to the facility include the City of Raleigh’s Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance and the City’s Environmental Award for institutional innovation.