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A Look Inside C-TRAN’s Eco-Friendly Transit Hub

BusPhotos 16

As cities across the U.S. work toward carbon neutrality and smarter infrastructure, C-TRAN’s new campus expansion in Vancouver, Washington, offers a compelling model for what sustainable public transit facilities can look like. At the heart of the design is mass timber — a renewable, low-carbon material that enhances energy efficiency, reduces construction time and cost, and promotes a healthier, more inviting environment for employees.

Designed by Ankrom Moisan, the facility prioritizes operator well-being and environmental responsibility. From its locally sourced mass plywood panels (MPP) to its biophilic benefits and modular construction, the project represents a thoughtful intersection of innovation and long-term sustainability while helping C-TRAN support the City of Vancouver’s broader green goals.

Check out our photo gallery to see the new campus come to life. Learn more about the project here.

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion during the afternoon.

C-TRAN's investment in mass timber for its campus expansion is not just about sustainability — it's about enhancing its workforce's long-term functionality, efficiency, and well-being.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion bus maintenance facility.

Three of the maintenance bays at C-TRAN’s updated campus, designed for fleet servicing and operator convenience.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion.

Designed by Portland-based architecture and design firm Ankrom Moisan, the C-TRAN operations building is the firm's first completed mass timber project.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

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Interior image of C-TRAN's bus maintenance facility.

"This was constructed on an active campus, so the faster it went up, the better," said Mariah Kiersey, office, retail, and community studio co-leader/sr. principal at Ankrom Moisan.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion during sunrise.

Mass timber enhances energy efficiency, as its natural insulating properties contribute to better thermal performance and reduced energy consumption.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion entrance.

The project's construction was tailored to skirt around daily operations, like fleet maintenance, bus circulation, and staff workspace.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion walkway.

Kiersey reports that mass timber construction can be seen in the airport entry, operator areas, and administrative areas in regions like the Pacific Northwest.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion porch.

"Freres Engineered Wood provides locally manufactured mass plywood panels (MPP), which utilize efficient wood fiber use and sustainable forestry practices, further strengthening the regional economy," Kiersey said.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Interior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion common room.

Mass timber construction can be ideal for transit environments. Its properties can support operators' well-being while improving air quality, reducing noise, and lowering carbon emissions.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Interior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion work room with cubicles and timber ceiling.

"Wood has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation, making it an excellent material for operator break areas, where employees need a calming retreat from the high-pressure demands of public interaction," Kiersey said.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Interior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion kitchen and tables.

The expansion offers a space for transit operators to lounge in and host training sessions.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion porch.

Mass timber is often used for roof structures, canopies, and interior finishes, creating "inviting" and "durable" public spaces while reducing embodied carbon.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion bus maintenance facility.

Mass timber offered an optimal cost, availability, and sustainability balance for C-TRAN compared to traditional materials.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Exterior image of C-TRAN's campus expansion bus maintenance facility and lot.

C-TRAN’s new facility combines sleek design and practical upgrades, supporting sustainability, operational flow, and workforce comfort in a single, modern transit hub.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Aerial image of C-TRAN's campus expansion lot.

An overhead look at C-TRAN’s expanded campus in Vancouver, Wash., showcases the facility’s efficient layout, designed to support zero-emission fleet operations and future-ready transit infrastructure.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist

Interior image of C-TRAN's bus maintenance facility.

Used in a way that is strategically placed, mass timber could be used in a maintenance facility, depending on the desired bay sizes for small vehicles. Still, this doesn't work well for articulated buses.

Photo: Shelsi Lindquist