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1300 Bush Street. Baltimore, Maryland.

A new bus maintenance facility, complete with modern equipment and a massive workspace to maintain MTA’s fleet, resulted in an increase in operations efficiency.

Increasing the capacity for bus maintenance and staging, this new facility features an enclosed interior circulation system with exhaust system. The building is 80,000 SF and includes offices, twenty-nine repair/inspection bays, two separate bays for dynamometer testing, a dedicated parts storage area, and a rebuild area for parts. Four repair bays serve 60 foot buses, and the high bays are equipped with bridge cranes for the removal and reinstallation of battery packs for hybrid buses. Other improvements consist of new power distribution systems, lighting, new ventilation system, an air compressor and air distribution piping, vehicle lifts, a compressor shop for rebuilding air conditioning compressors, and refrigerant recovery and storage areas. A clerestory at the center of the building provides natural light into the main work areas.

Project Highlights

Architecture

The steel structure is clad with masonry walls and composite panels. Facing the historic bus barns, a series of sectional doors provide drive-in access for twenty repair bays. Second level offices, driver’s lunch and locker rooms overlook the high bay.

Civil/Land Development

Paving, sidewalk, curb, and drainage system improvements were designed. The drainage system improvements included a new connection to an existing large diameter arch pipe in Bush Street.

Structural

The building is braced structural steel frame supported on pile foundations and features a three-story core of composite steel construction flanked by two long span joists framed repair bays, multiple overhead bridge cranes, and robust retaining walls designed to remain functional after accidental vehicular impact.

Mechanical

A LCCA was performed to determine the most cost effective system consistent with available funding. A gas-fired radiant system with dedicated make up air units was provided for maintenance shops. Administrative Areas were conditioned with high efficiency DX VAV AHUs.

Mapping/GIS/Surveying

Topographic and utility location surveys were provided for this renovated transit facility. Survey control was tied to Baltimore City Survey Control System. Survey data was used to develop a 3D model. The survey was processed in MicroStation using MTA standards.