Richard H Hansen Public Works

Duluth, Minnesota

2003

42,000 sf

Erik Wedge

Project Status: Completed Project

Civic

Scope:

Architecture Interior Design

As a strategic effort for St. Louis County, the City of Duluth and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/ DOT) to enhance their maintenance capabilities within the Duluth / South St. Louis County area, this facility increased efficiency and service through consolidating services in a central location.

A key component of this project is accessibility to highway maintenance areas. The building houses offices as well as a truck fleet for both the County and MN/DOT and provides 12 large repair bays for heavy equipment maintenance. An automated wash bay allows for fast, efficient cleaning of equipment. The precast concrete construction systems, plus the mechanical and electrical systems, create a very energy efficient building with excellent life cycle costs. Placement of the building on the site screens heavy traffic yard areas from the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Cost effective precast was used for construction, with the lower 6 feet core filled to prevent damage if hit by one of the service vehicles.

Secured employee entrance that leads to a locker room area, breakroom, and offices for maintenance personnel.

The drive through repair bay features in floor exhaust hook-ups and strategically placed floor drains so as not to interfere with mechanics on creepers.

7 drive-through maintenance bays and circular path that leads to a drive through car wash used daily by the maintenance vehicles.

Clearstory in the halls of the offices and conference room allow for daylight to shine though.

A bridge crane in the maintenance bays assists in lifting heavy items, while windows in overhead doors allows for daylighting.

The truck barn stores trucks, trailers, and smaller equipment with a central floor drain, hose bibs around the perimeter and space for light maintenance.