METRA STATION, Lombard, Ill.
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: KMI Architects|Engineers, Chicago
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: John Burns Construction Co., Orland Park, Ill.
CANOPY INSTALLER: Progressive Dynamics, Streamwood, Ill.
Materials
The renovated Metra Union Pacific/West commuter railroad station marks a major improvement for riders and residents of the Village of Lombard. Prior to construction, riders simply boarded trains from two uncovered platforms. Now, the nearly 1,300 weekday riders enjoy the convenience and shelter of 250 linear feet of curved metal roof canopies on both sides of the tracks.
The platform canopies are clad with approximately 11,000 square feet of PAC-CLAD Tite-Loc Panels from Petersen. The curved 22-gauge panels are finished in Aged Copper. The Tite-Loc Panels were manufactured at Petersen’s headquarters plant in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
“The PAC-CLAD panels were selected for their durability,” explains John Mehdi, project designer at KMI Architects|Engineers. “The overall canopy is long and we wanted to break it down into modules with the higher roofs marking the entrance to the platform area.”
The repetitive modular sections reduce cost and can facilitate a future curtainwall system to further protect stairways and ramps from the elements.
METAL PANEL PRODUCT AND MANUFACTURER: PAC-CLAD Tite-Loc Panels from Petersen
The Retrofit
The railroad line separates the Village of Lombard from north to south. A major component of the project included construction of a pedestrian tunnel to allow safe passage across the tracks.
Riders and residents have applauded the station updates. Metra Executive Director and CEO Don Orseno says: “We have not only significantly boosted the appeal of the Lombard Station, but we have also significantly boosted safety. We now have fully renovated platforms with beautiful new canopies, as well as a sparkling new pedestrian tunnel—the safest way possible to get across a set of train tracks.”
Photos: SCOTT BELL