Skanska USA, in a joint venture with Clancy & Theys and in association with Holt Brothers Construction, has completed construction of Raleigh Union Station, a new multi-modal transit center in the city’s Warehouse District.
Skanska and its partners converted an abandoned industrial building, the Dillon Supply warehouse at 510 West Martin St., into a state-of-the-art, 26,000-square-foot urban transportation center. It will house passenger rail facilities, commercial space, and interior and exterior civic space for special events.
“Raleigh Union Station is a landmark project for the city and the region,” said Greg Peele, general manager/executive vice president responsible for Skanska’s North Carolina/Virginia building operations. “It provides a vital upgrade in rail service, and this striking building will serve as a centerpiece for additional transit and business development in the Warehouse District.”
As part of this adaptive reuse project, Skanska preserved 80 percent of the structural steel from the Dillon Supply warehouse, which had been vacant since 2005. The rust-color steel frames the new terminal building, providing a visual connection between the building’s history and its new role as an Amtrak station.
To match the steel frames, a unique red oxide color is used throughout the
building, with black, grey and orange accents used on other elements. The original concrete footing of the warehouse is also visible coming out of the floor. Enormous 40 to 50 foot sliding barn doors are deployed throughout the building.
Raleigh Union Station replaces a previous facility on Cabarrus Street, which was one of the busiest stations in the Southeastern U.S. The new station features two rail bridges, a passenger concourse and tunnel and a 950-foot-long center-loading train platform. It also includes:
• A larger waiting room and enhanced amenities for Amtrak passengers.
• A grand Civic Hall for large public events.
• A large public plaza near the intersection of West Street and Martin Street, providing a wonderful urban gathering area and space for special events.
• Commercial rental space for retail, office or restaurants.
• A center island passenger platform with level-boarding to provide better access for wheelchairs and strollers.
• Sustainable features including on-site bioretention, permeable pavement systems, green roof areas, and other stormwater management features.
• A pollinator garden, which will include plants chosen to enhance the populations of pollinating creatures in the area.
The new facility was dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane, U.S. Representative David Price, officials from Amtrak and the N.C. Department of Transportation, and other local officials on April 30. The first trains are slated to arrive in the station this summer.
Raleigh Union Station will serve as a catalyst for the city’s revitalized Warehouse District, with additional investment including a nearby 17-story office building. It will also provide a hub for future upgraded commuter rail service in the community, as part of a recently approved plan to fund transportation improvements in the region.
The architects for the project were Clearscapes and STV.
About Skanska
Skanska USA is one of the largest, most financially sound construction and development companies in the U.S., serving a broad range of clients including those in transportation, power, industrial, water/wastewater, healthcare, education, sports, data centers, government, aviation, life sciences and commercial. Headquartered in New York with offices in 31 metro areas, we have nearly 11,000 employees committed to being leaders in safety, project execution, sustainability, ethics and people development. In 2017, our work in building construction, civil and power/industrial construction, commercial development and infrastructure development (public-private partnerships) generated $7.3 billion in revenue. Global revenue of parent company Skanska AB, headquartered in Stockholm and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, totaled $18.8 billion in 2017. Skanska shares are publicly traded in the U.S. on the OTC market under the symbol SKBSY through a Level I American Depository Receipt program. www.skanksa.com
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