M-1 RAIL has released conceptual renderings of  the facility that will house the Detroit streetcar's technology systems, vehicles and operations team.

Construction of the nearly 19,000-square-foot Penske Tech Center is already underway and is expected  to be completed by  the end of 2015. The facility will be  located  between  Bethune and Custer Avenues, at  the  northern  end  of  the  3.3-mile  streetcar  system.   

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The cost to design and build the Tech Center is estimated to be $6.9  million.

“We have communicated extensively with the residents and business owners from the neighborhood where the Tech  Center will be located, and their input has been invaluable in making sure that the new Tech Center becomes a  vibrant part of the community,” said Paul Childs, Chief Operating Officer, M-1 RAIL.

Childs  said  that  among  the design  decisions for  the Tech Center,  the community members’ recommendations included:

• The  Tech  Center  building  will  be  closer  to  Woodward  Avenue,  putting  streetcar  storage  in  a  well-­kept  area  
behind  the  facility.   

• The exterior  will  be  made  of  red brick,  which  is  more  representative  of  the  historical  look  and  feel  of  the  surrounding  neighborhood than  other  materials  such  as  stucco  or  metal. 

• Decorative  metal  fencing  will  be  used  for  the  perimeter  of  the  storage  area  behind  the  facility.

• Decorative  lighting  will  be  used  on the  exterior  of  the  building,  and  will  be  both  functional  for
safety  and  security,  but  will  not  disturb  surrounding  properties.    

• The  landscaping  will  include  plants  and  other  vegetation  indicative to  the  neighborhood.

The  Design/Build Team for the Tech Center includes Turner Construction Co., 3.L.K. Construction, ABE Associates,   Inc., and RNL. ABE Associates Inc.,  and 3.L.K. Construction are registered Detroit‐headquartered businesses   (DHB), disadvantaged-­business­‐enterprises (DBE) and minority business enterprises (MBE). Turner is a  registered Detroit-­based business. The fourth team member, RNL, is a national designer of light rail and  mass transit maintenance facilities and is teamed with ABE Associates Inc. for architectural services.      

Nearly 60% of the subcontractors hired by the design/build team to construct the tech center are Detroit-­based, DBE, MBE and woman‐owned business enterprise companies. The goal is for 51% of the construction workers who build the facility to be Detroit residents.