SPU SOUTH TRANSFER STATION
SPU SOUTH TRANSFER STATION Seattle, Washington
Building Gross Square Footage: 141,000 gsf
The City of Seattle generates over 700,000 tons of waste each year. The good news is, half of that waste is recycled or composted. Seattle Public Utilities has managed to accomplish this feat with outdated transfer stations built in the 1960’s. The SPU South Transfer Station is the first transfer station in Seattle built to address considerations of resource recovery as well as waste handling. The large spans and expansive flat tipping floor allows for flexibility in collection and segregation of various types of waste, bringing the city one step closer to a zero waste future. Safety and clarity of site circulation were the overriding principles of design for this public industrial facility. The site was designed to separate public, commercial and trailer traffic with three distinct traffic flows. A trailer tunnel allowed for this clarity of circulation and optimization of green space within a limited site area. The tipping floor was designed to optimize diffused natural light, creating a safer environment for staff and users, and a visitor viewing area in the administration area allows visitors to view operations without exposing them to potential dangers on the tipping floor. Sustainability was an important driver for this project, beginning with the ability to segregate waste. The LEED Gold facility employs rainwater harvesting and maximized pervious surfaces despite a traffic heavy program. The daylighting design for the tipping floor allows the facility to operate during the day with no electric light. Although bordered by two freeways in an industrial area, the site is close to a single family residential area. This facility was designed to be a significant operational and aesthetic improvement for the neighbors of Seattle’s South Park community. The new facility was designed with clear sightlines through the secure fencing to monitor and discourage illegal dumping activities. The clear visibility and identity of the new facility has resulted in fewer lost visitors roaming through the residential neighborhoods with their full loads. The lush landscape design and minimizing of hardscape creates an oasis of green landscape in the desert of industrial properties, and the design of the building, site and artwork create something surprising and striking in the midst of the heavy truck traffic, highways and warehouses.
South Elevation
View from southeast
DU W AM IS H RI VE R
2ND AVENUE S
WE ST MA
SOUTH PARK INDUSTRIAL AREA
RG AL
SR-509
IN WA Y SO UT H
S KENYON ST
SOUTH PARK RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
Site & Vicinity Plan
Aerial View: The facility is located between two highways in an industrial area.
Concept Sketch
One organism’s waste is food for another and nutrients flow indefinitely in cradle-to-cradle cycles of birth, decay and rebirth. In other words, waste equals food. -William McDonough
UP
DN
DN
Commercial
UP DN
UP
Level 1: Tunnel
UP
UP
Self-Haul
DN UP DN
Level 2: Tipping Floor
Public Pedestrian Entry
DN
Floor Plan
Tipping Floor DN
Level 2.5: Office
Separation of traffic for self haulers, commercial haulers and transfer trailers creates a safe environment for the public and for employees.
LEGEND SELF HAUL CIRCULATION COMMERCIAL CIRCULATION WASTE TRAILERS
Tunnel
Circulation Diagram
Salvaged street signs from a City of Seattle sign replacement program are used at the entry as a rainscreen cladding.
Niches in the site wall are places for staff to highlight treasures they find and rescue from the waste stream.
View from the public entry looking back at the site wall with niches.
Entrance Gate: Scales and booths are arranged to allow for a reversible lane. During high traffic times roof overhangs provide cover at all possible transaction locations.
Self-haul area of tipping floor: Moveable signs allow for flexibility in waste sorting and handling.
Daylighting design creates a well-lit and safe working environment.
Trailer in the tunnel ready for waste deposit from the tipping floor above.
Staff Office at Level 2.5
A public viewing room give user groups a safe way to observe and learn about facility operations.
Window from staff office overlooking the tipping floor.
East elevation: Artwork recalls the dearly departed and recently demolished South Park Bridge.
Building Gross Square Footage: 141,000 gsf
The City of Seattle generates over 700,000 tons of waste each year. The good news is, half of that waste is recycled or composted. Seattle Public Utilities has managed to accomplish this feat with outdated transfer stations built in the 1960’s. The SPU South Transfer Station is the first transfer station in Seattle built to address considerations of resource recovery as well as waste handling. The large spans and expansive flat tipping floor allows for flexibility in collection and segregation of various types of waste, bringing the city one step closer to a zero waste future. Safety and clarity of site circulation were the overriding principles of design for this public industrial facility. The site was designed to separate public, commercial and trailer traffic with three distinct traffic flows. A trailer tunnel allowed for this clarity of circulation and optimization of green space within a limited site area. The tipping floor was designed to optimize diffused natural light, creating a safer environment for staff and users, and a visitor viewing area in the administration area allows visitors to view operations without exposing them to potential dangers on the tipping floor. Sustainability was an important driver for this project, beginning with the ability to segregate waste. The LEED Gold facility employs rainwater harvesting and maximized pervious surfaces despite a traffic heavy program. The daylighting design for the tipping floor allows the facility to operate during the day with no electric light. Although bordered by two freeways in an industrial area, the site is close to a single family residential area. This facility was designed to be a significant operational and aesthetic improvement for the neighbors of Seattle’s South Park community. The new facility was designed with clear sightlines through the secure fencing to monitor and discourage illegal dumping activities. The clear visibility and identity of the new facility has resulted in fewer lost visitors roaming through the residential neighborhoods with their full loads. The lush landscape design and minimizing of hardscape creates an oasis of green landscape in the desert of industrial properties, and the design of the building, site and artwork create something surprising and striking in the midst of the heavy truck traffic, highways and warehouses.
South Elevation
View from southeast
DU W AM IS H RI VE R
2ND AVENUE S
WE ST MA
SOUTH PARK INDUSTRIAL AREA
RG AL
SR-509
IN WA Y SO UT H
S KENYON ST
SOUTH PARK RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
Site & Vicinity Plan
Aerial View: The facility is located between two highways in an industrial area.
Concept Sketch
One organism’s waste is food for another and nutrients flow indefinitely in cradle-to-cradle cycles of birth, decay and rebirth. In other words, waste equals food. -William McDonough
UP
DN
DN
Commercial
UP DN
UP
Level 1: Tunnel
UP
UP
Self-Haul
DN UP DN
Level 2: Tipping Floor
Public Pedestrian Entry
DN
Floor Plan
Tipping Floor DN
Level 2.5: Office
Separation of traffic for self haulers, commercial haulers and transfer trailers creates a safe environment for the public and for employees.
LEGEND SELF HAUL CIRCULATION COMMERCIAL CIRCULATION WASTE TRAILERS
Tunnel
Circulation Diagram
Salvaged street signs from a City of Seattle sign replacement program are used at the entry as a rainscreen cladding.
Niches in the site wall are places for staff to highlight treasures they find and rescue from the waste stream.
View from the public entry looking back at the site wall with niches.
Entrance Gate: Scales and booths are arranged to allow for a reversible lane. During high traffic times roof overhangs provide cover at all possible transaction locations.
Self-haul area of tipping floor: Moveable signs allow for flexibility in waste sorting and handling.
Daylighting design creates a well-lit and safe working environment.
Trailer in the tunnel ready for waste deposit from the tipping floor above.
Staff Office at Level 2.5
A public viewing room give user groups a safe way to observe and learn about facility operations.
Window from staff office overlooking the tipping floor.
East elevation: Artwork recalls the dearly departed and recently demolished South Park Bridge.
