The 28,000-square-foot Halvor Lines Maintenance Facility is designed for both efficient operations and employee comfort. At its core, the maintenance area features six expansive drive-through bays, each fully integrated with jib cranes, fluid distribution systems, and trench drains to streamline operations. Safety remains a priority within this workspace, evidenced by the inclusion of a dedicated eyewash station and emergency shower, while clerestory windows are utilized to flood the shop with natural light.
Directly adjacent to the maintenance shop, the facility offers extensive parts storage and a dedicated driver lounge. This rest area provides a full suite of amenities, including lockers, showers, a fitness room, and laundry facilities. For nourishment and relaxation, drivers have access to a kitchen and vending machines, which transition to a covered outdoor patio featuring a grilling area and infrared heaters for year-round use. The administrative side of the operation is housed in a two-story wing containing modern offices, a collaborative meeting room, and a staff lunchroom, all of which are protected by a security system utilizing cameras and card-access technology.
Constructing the facility required navigating complex environmental and logistical hurdles due to its proximity to Lake Superior. Because of the high water table in the area, the design team implemented Geopier foundations and carefully engineered the building’s elevations and drainage systems to account for the nearby lake. Further complicating the site was the need to coordinate design efforts with the ongoing Blatnik Bridge construction project. To ensure Halvor Lines could maintain its daily operations without interruption, the team developed a meticulous construction phasing plan, as the new structure was built immediately adjacent to the client’s existing, active maintenance and administrative headquarters.