Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the Northern Bus Garage in Washington, D.C., was constructed in 1906 in the district’s 14th Street corridor. At the time it was the largest streetcar barn in the country. After an extensive search to find a new site to relocate the aging facility, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority instead chose to renovate the building at its current site. As part of this initiative, STV is leading the design component for a progressive design-build reconstruction. Clark Construction is serving as the contractor and is leading the effort. STV is providing design management, civil, structural, and industrial engineering services, in addition to leading systems integrations.

The massive, 589,700-square-foot garage will house a fleet of 150 buses, including battery electric buses, and facilities for servicing and performing minor repairs for the fleet, along with offices and other support facilities. The design team is working toward achieving a LEED Platinum rating.  With an eye towards the future, STV is also designing the facility to prepare for a full conversion to battery electric buses at a later date.

In accordance with the Historic Preservation Society, STV’s plans will protect more than 500 feet of historic façade and original architecture of the two-story brick administration building and a tower. Additionally, certain street level sections of the facility will be redesigned to provide approximately 26,000 square feet of new retail storefronts.