Our Work

DART Central Station

Des Moines, Iowa

Confluence was retained to provide site design services for the new Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) station in downtown Des Moines. The site will provide transfer functions for bus riders and serve as a new home for the DART administrative staff. Using the site’s recent rail history for inspiration, Confluence used the patterns of the rail yard as a way to inform the pedestrian wayfinding experience, both inside and outside the building. Speed tables slow bus traffic at key pedestrian crossing points while the granite pattern continues toward bus loading areas.

Although faced with a small site, the design team proposed sustainable storm water solutions, allowing public street drainage to enter the site through a curb cut, settle out within a plant basin, and return back to the street system. Native vegetation is introduced in the urban environment for practical purposes, as well as a contrast to the modern structure. The project is positioned to achieve LEED Gold certification.

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