Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Hailed as ‘representing a new era of public transit,’ the three-story Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) is redefining the experiences of the more than three million people expected to annually use rail services and intercity bus systems in southern California.6
Dedicated in December 2014, the $185-million transportation center offers various amenities, including specialty dining, transit-oriented retail, Wi-Fi and charging stations, parking, bike racks, lockers, and entertainment options. The transit hub links commuter and regional rail service with intercity bus systems including Amtrak, Metrolink, Anaheim Resort Transportation, and Greyhound Lines.
Sustainability was a major consideration for ARTIC’s design team led by the Los Angeles office of HOK, which set out to qualify the transit center for LEED Platinum.
“The project is the first LEED Platinum-certified transit station in the world,” according to the firm’s vice president and senior principal, Kazem Toossi, AIA, LEED Green Associate. “The building was designed with advanced mechanical systems to optimize energy efficiency, while reducing water usage, solid waste, and carbon emissions.”
Among the innovative technologies HOK used to optimize energy efficiency in the 6224-m2 (67,000-sf) ARTIC terminal is its innovative roof structure composed of 18,580-m2 (200,000 sf) of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushions. The transparent roofing material was selected for its durability, light weight, insulation, and self-cleaning properties. Its resistance to extreme weather contributes to its extended service life.7
The center’s 36.5-m (120-ft) structural shell consists of 355-mm (14-in.) diameter steel tubing that forms 40 arches arranged in a diagrid pattern. The simple and strong form of the interior exposed steel diagrid shell required the architects to pay special attention to detailing of the steel moment connection so it appeared seamless, and the pure form and geometry were not compromised.
The diagrid structural system required both shop- and field-applications of a neutral-colored, three-coat system that accentuated the arches and at the same time married the rest of the ETFE structure. The specified coatings conformed to VOC limits under the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which has the most restrictive VOC coatings regulations in the United States.
The coating system for the terminal’s structural steel was shop-applied by Techno West, an abrasive blasting and shop-coatings facility in Anaheim, California. Touch up of the estimated 2.5 km (1.5 mi) of welds on the assembled structure was performed by Techno Coatings in Anaheim.
Specifications called for structural steel to be prepared in accordance with SSPC SP 6/NACE No. 3, Commercial Blast Cleaning with a .05-mm (2-mil) angular anchor profile and shop-primed with a two-component, aromatic zinc-rich urethane coating. The intermediate coat was a low-VOC epoxy, followed by a finish coat of a low-VOC modified polycarbamide coating combining superior color and gloss retention with very good brush, roll, and spray application characteristics.
Several welded mockup sequences were used to demonstrate the surface preparation and performance of the specified coating system prior to its final approval. The mockups were 1.8- to 2.4-m (6- to 8-ft) tall fabricated cross-members representative of the actual size and scope of the work.
Choosing the right coating could make or break your building. Sometimes literally. Very informative post, thanks for sharing.