Train Station Recognized with LEED Certification

DEARBORN, MI – Dearborn’s new John D. Dingell Transit Center earned a prestigious Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of its environmentally friendly building components.

A presentation took place on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

The Silver Certification was awarded under LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — guidelines. LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring a building’s sustainability.

The city of Dearborn owns the transit center, and Amtrak operates the station. It was built entirely with $28.2 million in federal funds and opened in December 2014.

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Among the elements qualifying the 16,000-square-foot building for Silver Certification is a metal roof, energy-efficient lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and storm water management features. It sits on seven acres at 21201 Michigan Ave. The parking lot includes charging stations for electrical vehicles.

Neumann/Smith Architecture designed the station, along with consultant design firms of SmithGroupJJR, Quandel Consultants, KMI, Penhale & Yates, DiClemente Siegel Design and Somat Engineering. Tooles/Clark constructed the center.

Mayor John B. O’Reilly, who was unable to attend the ceremony, said in a statement that the Silver Certification reflects the city’s commitment to sustainability.

“We’re proud that we designed the Dingell Transit Center to meet demanding LEED standards, in keeping with our other ‘green’ initiative,” O’Reilly said. “It is especially appropriate for the train station, since rail travel, like all mass transit, promotes more efficient use of energy and resources.”

City officials were notified in November that the transit center was approved for Silver LEED certification.

The Silver Certification comes on top of other honors bestowed on the building in 2015. It earned an Honorable Mention from UM/ULI Real Estate Forum under its 2015 Development/Redevelopment Award. Also, the Construction Association of Michigan named the transit center as one of the state’s 12 most important projects of the year.

Photo

From left, Mike Kirk, principal with Neumann/Smith Architecture; Dearborn City Councilman Mike Sareini; Steve Gedert, principal with Neumann/Smith Architecture; Kevin McNeely, president of the Detroit Regional Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council; David Norwood, Dearborn sustainability coordinator; Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja; Barry Murray, director of Economic and Community Development for the City, and Neal Billetdeaux of Smith Group JJR celebrate the John Dingell Transit Center’s receipt of Silver Certification under LEED designation guidelines. (City of Dearborn photo)