Built on a repurposed brownfield site to replace the existing Mukilteo ferry terminal, the new Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal provides more space for vehicle holding and separates pedestrian and vehicle boarding with an overhead walkway for safer, more efficient loading, especially for people with disabilities. The new facility includes a 5,865-sf terminal, a 4,193-sf maintenance building, and a 828-sf toll plaza.
The two-story building was designed in partnership with KPFF Consulting Engineers with input from local Coast Salish tribes. The building’s longhouse form streamlines circulation and manages large patron flows with intuitive wayfinding. Vertical transportation cores with elevators and stairs at each end of the structure lead to a linear promenade at the upper level, from which entries to the ticketing and waiting area are plainly visible.
A daylight-filled waiting room provides views to land and sea and helps to orient ferry riders. Tribal cultural motifs created by local Native American artists are displayed throughout the building to create a welcoming atmosphere. A new waterfront promenade connects a path from downtown Mukilteo through the terminal and onto the beach, creating an elevated pathway for public use.
The team approached the project with strong sustainability ambitions. Removing the pier eliminated approximately 10% of the Puget Sound’s remaining toxic creosote piles. The longhouse-style shed roof provides space for a full array of photovoltaic panels, allowing the building to return energy to the grid. The roof canopy is made from cross-laminated timber while heating and cooling the concrete-slab main floor with electric heat pumps provides interior comfort year round. Additionally, a rack and pinion window system automatically opens and closes in response to changing conditions, optimizing airflow and comfort.
The new Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal officially opened on Dec. 29.
Related Stories
| Jan 3, 2014
Norman Foster proposes elevated bikeways throughout London
Called SkyCycle, the plan calls for the construction of wide, car-free decks atop the city's existing railway corridors.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.
| Nov 26, 2013
Construction costs rise for 22nd straight month in November
Construction costs in North America rose for the 22nd consecutive month in November as labor costs continued to increase, amid growing industry concern over the tight availability of skilled workers.
| Nov 25, 2013
Building Teams need to help owners avoid 'operational stray'
"Operational stray" occurs when a building’s MEP systems don’t work the way they should. Even the most well-designed and constructed building can stray from perfection—and that can cost the owner a ton in unnecessary utility costs. But help is on the way.
| Oct 30, 2013
11 hot BIM/VDC topics for 2013
If you like to geek out on building information modeling and virtual design and construction, you should enjoy this overview of the top BIM/VDC topics.
| Oct 18, 2013
Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal
When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread.
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
