Bakersfield Downtown Bus Transit

The Golden Empire Transit (GET) District provides public transportation to the greater Bakersfield area with a total service area 110 square miles. Assembledge+ was selected by the District to create a concept design for the upgrade and remodel of the Downtown Bus Center to meet current functional requirements of the existing center, built in the early 1980s.

One of several goals for the facility remodel and upgrade was to enhance the facility’s image within the community and thereby help to attract additional ridership. The design involved not only analyzing the condition of the facility, but also observing the variety of users who patronize the center on a daily basis.

The redevelopment concept is designed to address physical issues within the existing terminal, including material choices, layouts of places to provide durability, maintenance visibility, control, security and accessibility, and to create a new downtown landmark and identity for the transit district. The concept has been split into three phases to allow flexibility in the implementation to match funding availability.

Phase A delivers a New Customer Service Center; Phase B includes Bus-Bay Canopy Enhancement, and Phase C will focus on Site and Pedestrian Improvements.

Phase A provides a New Customer Service Center, a low horizontal structure with large overhangs to provide shade for bus patrons and help energy performance of the new building envelope.

Phase B calls for the removal of the existing canopy roof and structure, replacing it with a larger lightweight metal structure covered with a lightweight inflatable fabric membrane to expand significantly the shaded areas for bus patrons.

Phase C calls for Site and Pedestrian Improvements including new paving, lighting, digital signage, benches, and landscape.

Location: Bakersfield, California

Size: 1.2 acres

Project Team: Richard Thompson, FAIA (Principal-in-Charge), Michael Sweeney (Project Architect), Jooyoung Chung (Designer)