The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) Multimodal Transportation Facility in Duluth, MN is changing the way people travel through the city’s downtown area as it caters to 6,000 commuters and 600 bus movements each day.

The $30 million hub, featuring metal products from CENTRIA, includes a bus transit terminal with a large, multi-level parking structure, bicycle parking and more that lends itself to commuters of all types. Despite the congested peak rush hours, buses, cars, bicycles and pedestrians never have to cross paths in the facility, creating greater safety and efficiency.

The city has established skyways for pedestrians to comfortably travel to work while avoiding the cold Minnesota winters outside. The facility strategically integrated with the existing Duluth Skywalk System by connecting it with the Superior Street Business District, while the Northwest Passage connects the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center with downtown Duluth across I-35. Heated floors and exterior sidewalks add to the commuter experience by guarding against ice build-up.

Additional features – including a 15-desk Duluth Police Department substation, an ATM drive through, charging stations for experimental electric buses and capacity for 120 bikes – make the DTA Transportation Facility is truly a one-of-a-kind facility in the region.

With frigid conditions that often dip into negative temperatures, the Jamar Company needed to install the DTA Transportation Facility’s exterior metal panels quickly and efficiently in order to avoid the winter weather. IW Series concealed fastener panels were the ideal product for the time-sensitive project. They can be installed both horizontally and vertically in any climate and lend themselves perfectly for fast-track scheduling and installation.

The interchangeable, weather-resistant lock-joint design of the CENTRIA IW Series family of products not only met the demands of Duluth’s harsh winter environment, but also allowed the facility to mix and match panels throughout the design.

CENTRIA’s metal panels complement the building’s brick exterior with their contemporary sleek Midnight Bronze and Crushed Ice color palettes to greet downtown commuters. IW Series panels feature a clean and unbroken aesthetic with no exposed fasteners in several stucco embossed or smooth finishes, creating the perfect blend of aesthetic design and ease of installation.