John Olver Transit Heart / Charles Rose Architects

John Olver Transit Heart / Charles Rose Architects

Textual content description supplied by the architects. The John W. Olver Transit Heart, situated in Greenfield, MA, is the primary net-zero transit middle in the US. It was funded partially by the FTA and ARRA. Since its completion, the 24,000 SF intermodal transit hub has launched high-performance design to Franklin County, demonstrating a dedication to sustainability and moral design. The mission serves as a depot for regional and interstate bus traces, a station for AMTRAK’s Vermonter and Valley Flyer traces, and an workplace for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. The mission acquired a 2023 AIA COTE Prime 10 award.

From xeriscaping to sustainable applied sciences, this mission brings a broad vary of ecological and environmental values to the guts of the group. The design course of fostered a multidisciplinary effort that built-in engineering, constructing expertise, structure, and panorama structure right into a seamless, holistic design. Architectural design selections benefited from real-time vitality modeling suggestions, resulting in the optimization of type and orientation, fenestration, and methods. Thermal modeling of particulars was built-in all through the design course of to eradicate thermal bridging.

 Along with a high-performance envelope and lowered vitality hundreds, passive design methods embrace daylighting, thermal mass temperature regulation, inside and exterior shading, a photo voltaic wall for preheating make-up air within the winter, and pure air flow. Energetic methods included 22 geothermal wells, water-sourced warmth pumps, chilled beams, vitality restoration methods, and occupant engagement guided by an vitality “dashboard.” On-site vitality era features a 98kW photovoltaic array.

The mission offers 24,000 sf of adaptable group area on the middle of the city– areas with non-fixed furnishings all through making certain that the constructing may be simply reprogrammed as wanted. The area has an open format and accommodates group assembly areas, county authorities places of work, and a regional transit middle. The mission addresses financial inequality and monetary vulnerability, by offering a group useful resource and entry to public transportation.