and constructed an inviting pedestrian bridge that links the JRTC to the Intercity Bus Terminal, unifying the campus. The bridge spans 280 feet over LaVilla’s Stuart Street and West Forsyth Street and features a canopy with a design that extends the language of the triangulated curtain wall. The bridge serves as a new gateway to downtown Jack- The iconic, crescent-shaped structure is divided into public terraces with a glass curtain wall on one side to convey a sense of movement. The curtain wall, a progressive design hallmark envisioned to express acceleration and mirror the JTA's philosophy of transportation, is the central artistic and architectural innovation of the JRTC. To achieve this look, the team worked with a specialized glazing manufacturer, creating a unique and aesthetically striking interlocking design of triangular and trapezoidal shapes that were printed on the glass. The coloring process involved printing the ink on the glazing to achieve two separate colors on the same piece of glass, an uncommon feature. The panels were assembled in a factory, accelerating construction and reducing costs, then hung like puzzle pieces on the façade. sonville for passenger cars exiting I-95. Eye on Aesthetics and Sustainability In addition to aesthetics, the curtain wall enhanced sustainability, al- lowing for natural daylighting. The team used energy analysis model- ing to determine the percentage of insulation needed behind the curtain wall panels and in another effort to improve sustainability, performed building information modeling on the exact construction materials to design more efficient HVAC systems. The administrative building is currently pursuing LEED Gold Certification, while the adjacent Grey- hound Terminal successfully achieved LEED Silver Certification. Future-Focused Design The team made conscious design decisions with an eye to the future, ensuring that the facility is adaptable to new transportation technol- ogy. The skyway beam can be converted to an autonomous vehicle space with the removal of the monorail beam and conversion of the Skyway Terrace floor. Additionally, there is space for future micro and e-mobility solutions. In this way, the facility can continue to grow and change as the transportation needs of Jacksonville evolve.
Among the most important and lasting benefits of the JRTC has been its impact on its host community. The commitment by the JTA to bring the intermodal center to LaVilla has greatly improved community access to the greater Jacksonville area for jobs while offering it as a convenient destination for future arts and entertainment venues, as well as the adjacent convention center. In the end, the JRTC checked all of the JTA’s boxes: improve safety and access; provide highly-functional transit connections; be an icon for the City of Jacksonville; contribute to rejuvenating the adjacent neighborhoods; serve as a catalyst for Transit-Oriented Design (TOD) and demonstrate leadership in sustainability, energy and environmental design. However, the primary achievement of the JRTC is gathering the city's formerly fragmented transit services into a centralized mod- ern hub, enabling riders to easily and safely transfer between modes of transportation both internal and external to Jacksonville. The facility opened in May 2020 at a cost of $59.5M. Today, the JRTC is bustling, serving about 18,500 people per day.
BRIAN RUSSELL, P.E. is Project Principal in Charge and Vice President at Michael Baker International. DAVID TUDRYN, AIA is Project Design Manager and National Specialty Practice Leader for Architecture at Michael Baker International.
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may 2021
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