Blake Transit Center Facility Assessment and Design

DLZ provided Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) with professional architectural/ engineering services to assist in the facility assessment of the existing Blake Transit Center and the preliminary planning for its renovation, relocation, and/or reconstruction. DLZ was contracted to design the new Blake Transit Center. This project was approximately 12,500 square feet on three levels (including a full basement) and was located on a limited urban site in the heart of the Ann Arbor Business District. The new facility houses 12+ full-time staff members and will serve as the downtown transfer station, break area for bus drivers, and public information center for AAATA.

Three major design goals were to improve the overall safety in and around the current site, create a landmark facility, and achieve LEED Silver certification. The design was influenced by a large group of stakeholders extending from AAATA staff to the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Downtown Development Authority, and other community stakeholders. A significant time period of project development was devoted to stakeholder meetings. Complete funding for this project was secured through a combination of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grants. As a result, the design and project process had to follow FTA regulations.