Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) recently opened a new bus operations and maintenance facility for their expanding transit fleet to meet the community’s transportations needs and achieve 100% zero emission bus service by 2040. Global leader in sustainable design and engineering Stantec provided programming, master planning, architecture, and interior design for the 31,500-square-foot, three-structure facility comprised of an operations, maintenance, and vehicle wash buildings for about 80 transit vehicles.

The operations building houses dispatch, training, and amenities for operators and provides much-needed meeting and collaboration space for employees. Designed for employee comfort, the design optimizes daylight with clerestory windows which allow daylight to flow deep into the buildings. The six-bay maintenance building offers natural ventilation and daylight to all working spaces to support employee health and well-being. The maintenance building has also been designed to accommodate future fuel-cell electric buses, making the new facility as resilient as possible to adopt both types of zero-emission buses currently available. 

A recognized part of the community, the facility’s architectural design includes a sloped-roof and sculpted forms that reflect the surrounding hills and valleys while utilizing rooftop solar systems for energy optimization.

“This is a spectacular design. I’ve seen many, many maintenance facilities but I haven’t seen a facility this attractive,” said Ray Tellis, regional administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. “We are excited to see our vision for a resilient and highly functional building realized and ready to serve the community for decades to come.”

Sustainable strategies

NVTA will be seeking net zero energy through extensive use of photovoltaics and a microgrid to support both the buildings’ power needs and partially offset some of the electric vehicle charging demands. Energy-efficient building systems, lighting, and equipment, as well as a high-performing building envelope, reduce the demand for energy at the new facility. 

“We are proud to see our work on NVTA’s new facility play a part in securing a more environmentally-friendly future for Napa Valley,” said Will Todd, project architect for Stantec. “As they move toward their full zero emission fleet, this high-performing space is ready to handle the current and future demands of this busy transit system.”

Learn more about Stantec’s expertise in delivering safe and efficient operations, maintenance, and storage facilities.