The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) needed a new, replacement vehicle maintenance and garage facility for a fleet of vehicles operating 24/7. The design examined and reevaluated what worked well and needed improvement at older IDOT maintenance facilities to create the best fit for the new facility. The offices and breakroom stand in the middle of the facility to maximize efficiency and minimize traffic through the maintenance garage during downtime. The dayroom, locker rooms, and restrooms are located off the vehicle storage garage in order to be accessible during after-hours snow events. Vehicle flow and sequence inform the building design, with a yard tech strategically located to visualize vehicle use and movement. This improves on-site traffic movement while increasing site security.
The IDOT Maintenance Facility meets LEED Silver certification and includes four full-service maintenance bays, welding area, general shop, two washbays, 16 large truck bays, a parts room, and a fueling station along with administrative offices and staff support and training areas.