The 25,000-sf Indiana Toll Road Administrative and Operations Building is the epicenter for 157 miles of toll road monitoring, maintenance, and administration.
Having previously operated out of a maintenance garage, the client sought to consolidate its administrative functions into one building that would improve the efficiency of its operations and the work environment of its employees.
The new LEED Gold facility features open office seating and a large control room to monitor road conditions and roadway accidents. A central, two-story atrium functions
as the building’s hearth both programmatically as the primary amenity and gathering space, and performatively as a warm winter solarium and shaded collaboration space in the summer.
Atrium at the new Indiana Toll Road headquarters provides space for employees to relax. Photo: Courtesy SmithGroup
SMITHGROUP LEADS INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAM
SmithGroup (architect, interior designer, civil engineer, landscape architect) led the functionally integrated team of TGWRA (structural engineer), Primera Engineers (MEP), Baumann Consulting (commissioning), and HJ Kessler (LEED consultant).
The atrium prioritizes employee well-being by bringing natural light into the floorplate. Ample reflective materials create bright spaces free of glare.
A mix of open collaborative zones, lounge areas, meeting rooms, standing desks, and bench seating offer options for both collaborative and individual work.
A large central stair with sculptural detailing and warm wood accents creates an informal gathering area.
Summer section shows environmental considerations that went into LEED Gold certification. Image: SmithGroup
Winter section for solarium and office areas with environmental components. Image: SmithGroup
CAREFUL ATTENTION TO NATURAL SETTING
The facility lies in a young woodland site, with sprawling grasses and mid-density trees surrounded by a toll road clover loop. The project team left 80% of the site untouched, but excavated the site to create water basins and sculpted landforms. The result: a naturalized landscape that holds water onsite and requires no additional irrigation.
A gravel pedestrian path meanders through the site, and photovoltaic solar panels generate more than 40% of the building’s energy needs.
Employees also have access to an indoor workout room and a second-story terrace.
Related Stories
Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023
The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.
Green | Jun 26, 2023
Federal government will spend $30 million on novel green building technologies
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $30 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase the sustainability of federal buildings by testing novel technologies. The vehicle for that effort, the Green Proving Ground (GPG) program, will invest in American-made technologies to help increase federal electric vehicle supply equipment, protect air quality, reduce climate pollution, and enhance building performance.
Government Buildings | Jun 16, 2023
A police station in Boston attempts to bridge the divide separating law enforcement and the public
An investment in workers and residents, the new building is also more efficient and sustainable.
Engineers | Jun 14, 2023
The high cost of low maintenance
Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.
Government Buildings | May 18, 2023
GSA launches first biennial construction award program
Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the new biennial GSA Construction Award program, which is seeking submissions this summer. The program was created to honor outstanding achievements in construction, with a focus on quality and craftsmanship, collaboration and team dynamics, sustainability, innovation, and technology. The first Construction Awards ceremony will take place in 2024.
Mass Timber | May 1, 2023
SOM designs mass timber climate solutions center on Governors Island, anchored by Stony Brook University
Governors Island in New York Harbor will be home to a new climate-solutions center called The New York Climate Exchange. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), The Exchange will develop and deploy solutions to the global climate crisis while also acting as a regional hub for the green economy. New York’s Stony Brook University will serve as the center’s anchor institution.
Urban Planning | Apr 12, 2023
Watch: Trends in urban design for 2023, with James Corner Field Operations
Isabel Castilla, a Principal Designer with the landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, discusses recent changes in clients' priorities about urban design, with a focus on her firm's recent projects.
Market Data | Apr 11, 2023
Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023
Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver top the list of U.S/Canadian cities with the greatest number of fixed cranes on construction sites, according to Rider Levett Bucknall's RLB Crane Index for North America for Q1 2023.
Contractors | Apr 10, 2023
What makes prefabrication work? Factors every construction project should consider
There are many factors requiring careful consideration when determining whether a project is a good fit for prefabrication. JE Dunn’s Brian Burkett breaks down the most important considerations.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
New tool from Perkins&Will will make public health data more accessible to designers and architects
Called PRECEDE, the dashboard is an open-source tool developed by Perkins&Will that draws on federal data to identify and assess community health priorities within the U.S. by location. The firm was recently awarded a $30,000 ASID Foundation Grant to enhance the tool.
