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North Transfer Station Rebuild

Recognized by AISC with the IDEAS2 National award, the North Transfer Station may be the most beautiful and community-friendly dump in America. The project is comprised of a new tipping and transfer building (67,000 sf), a reuse/recycling building (10,000 sf), and an administration building (2,500 sf) located in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood.  

“A truly innovative, creative solution to program requirements that shows advances in the use of structural steel.”

— Jeff Yoders, Engineering News-Record magazine

Integrated Design Engineers was tasked with developing a building structure that allowed a 200-ft clear span that did not exceed SPU’s community building height agreement. Our solution was a tri-chorded roof truss system that also earned the project exemplary LEED daylighting credits. 

We also developed the “floating corner,” a 50-ft cantilever truss and a 120-ft main transfer truss system that supports the weight of the entire building at its southwest corner. This upper-level corner—supported without any columns or walls—allows trucks access into the building on the lower level.

“Overall, the steel elements create an organizational framework and visual interest that defines the open space and thus becomes a significant part of the architectural aesthetic.”

— Lead Architect, Mahlum

Project Overview

Owner: Seattle Public Utilities

Prime Consultant: CDM Smith Inc.

Architect: Mahlum

Contractor: Lydig Construction

Location: Seattle, Washington

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