The MUNI bus facility will have the capacity to maintain and operate 165 diesel buses, and provide a comfortable work environment for approximately 300 employees. The facility’s 5.32 acres of city land is on Islais Creek, an industrial creek being reclaimed for public use by the community. Two buildings covering an area of 54,000 sq ft have been proposed. One building near the creek incorporates a public use lobby and labor history exhibit. 41,000 sq ft of property has been dedicated to public access.

RCCo is committed to design the facility as environmentally friendly as possible within the constraints of a project which presents an inherent potential for producing waste and toxins. We are studied ways of recycling wash water, and harnessing natural energy for use within the building through the use of solar panels and possibly windmills. The “sawtooth” clerestory design allows for maximum sun exposure to maximize the benefits of the solar panels, and to maximize the amount of light that filters into the building’s interior.

Located in a redevelopment district at the edge of San Rafael’s downtown, the bus station occupies one city block. The station designer, Robin Chiang who was responsible for 100% of the station, combined the city’s requirement for a historical appearance and the owner’s (Golden Gate Bridge District) desire for hi-tech by recalling the steel structures of the Industrial Revolution era. The station’s canopies are made of large scale steel columns and beams visually tempered with small scale trusswork, concrete column wrappers, and cat- faced gutters. Corners of the site are punctuated by covered pavilions of steel wide flanges and etched glass.

The project does not dominate its neighborhood and relates well to the architecture of the surrounding commercial buildings. It was completed in 1992 and has been secure and relatively easy to maintain. The press joked about the cat-faced gutters, but the neighbors pointed out that the station has not had pigeon problems. The project cost $2.1 million and was completed within budget and on time.

Winner: American Institute of Architects Merit Award