District One Shop Building, Charleston, WV
Chapman Technical Group of St. Albans, West Virginia provided the architectural expertise for the new vehicle maintenance shop building which will greatly enhance the ability of District 1 to maintain its fleet of service vehicles and ultimately provide improved maintenance of the Districts roads and highways. The new fully-equipped vehicle maintenance building has seven drive-through bays enabling workers to maintain even the largest pieces of equipment in the DOH’s arsenal. Hydraulic lifts and cranes provide for a safe and efficient working environment. The building also houses offices and locker facilities for the workers, a second floor parts storage area, a separate welding shop, and a vehicle wash bay.
The building fronts on Smith Street, a historic district in downtown Charleston. The area has been experiencing revitalization and one of the goals of the project was to design the facility to be a good neighbor and to downplay the industrial look that is common to vehicle maintenance facilities. Architectural features such as the brick façade and brick pilasters with precast detailing give the building look that complements the architecture of the neighborhood.