Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center

Buro Happold
  • ARTIC
  • ARTIC Inside
  • ARTIC Geometry

1 / Introduction

Serving as a hub for the future of California’s high-speed rail network and other regional transit lines; with supporting retail, restaurants, and passenger services, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center is a major new iconic transportation center in Anaheim, CA. Collaborating with HOK Architects and Parsons Brinkerhoff, Buro Happold is providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering, complete enclosure and façade rationalization, design and engineering, BIM modeling, energy modeling, and sustainability/LEED consulting services. This is truly a highly engineered building with façade engineers, MEP engineers, computational modeling experts and building physics analysts working together in a highly integrated holistic team approach - in a virtual environment. The project is currently under construction and expected to be complete in 2014.

Key facts

  • Hub for future high-speed rail network
  • Extensive daylighting
  • Unique ETFE roof

Related Disciplines

The Project Details

Location: Anaheim, CA, USA

Client: City of Anaheim and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)

Architect: HOK/Parsons Brinkerhoff

Buro Happold services: MEP Engineering, Sustainability and LEED Consultancy, Facades Engineering, Enclosure 3D Modeling, Energy Modeling, Water and Renewable Energy Analysis, Shadow and Daylight Studies, Lighting Simulation

Sectors: Rail

This is a Buro Happold project - Visit the website to see more stories like this

2 / Challenge

Our commitment to sustainability and state of the art design led us to engineer a facility that is both visually engaging and environmentally responsible. Design goals in the overall MEP and sustainability masterplan include a targeted 30% energy and water reduction through use of onsite renewable energy and grey water recycling programs respectively.

3 / Solution

With a unique and dynamic building envelope, ARTIC will feature the largest expanse of ETFE pillows in North America, a highly insulating enclosure system 1/10th the weight of glass that will allow the building to respond to environmental conditions. The ETFE foil will be fritted such that daylight and solar gain entering through the skin can be controlled and used efficiently, reducing the building’s overall carbon footprint – both actual energy and embodied energy; while thermal characteristics of the skin will be modified through varying the air pressure of the ETFE cushion.

Extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis has been undertaken to model the environmental performance of the space and systems that combine radiant cooling with mixed mode natural ventilations through motorized windows and mechanical ventilation through jet nozzles. The modeling has enabled us to create a highly transparent enclosure and still control the levels of solar radiation in a highly energy efficient solution.

We are also providing modeling for five different enclosure systems. The complexity of the enclosure systems is tackled by the accuracy of the 3D modeling that allows the project team to review and coordinate the project in real time. The models developed will be used for energy simulation, daylight simulation, daylight simulation, lighting simulation, geometric rationalization, clash coordination, quantity take off, cost estimation, digital fabrication, construction sequencing, and post occupancy facilities management.

4 / Value

Upon completion, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center will produce energy savings of up to 20% above ASHRAE 90.1 2007 Standards and become the first transit center in the world to be awarded LEED Platinum certification.