ALPOLIC MCM Provides Comfort for AMTRAK Passengers
For decades, the main train station in Newport News, Virginia served passengers traveling up and down the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic coasts. Over time, as the station’s shortcomings became evident, the city acknowledged the need for improved facilities.
The challenge: To create a transportation hub able to accommodate the area’s growing population of mass transit passengers. The solution, a spacious facility set in a central location, made with durable materials, including ALPOLIC MCM.
Project Newport News Transportation Center
Location Newport News, Virginia
Architect Niles Bolton Associates
Fabricator Tecta America Roof Services
Product ALPOLIC/fr in BNT Bone White
Amtrak’s Northeast Regional trains, with service from Boston to New York City to various stops throughout Virginia, comprise the nation’s busiest rail routes. According to Amtrak, the Northeast Regional carried over nine million passengers in 2023 and close to eleven million in 2024. With the rise in rail travel comes the need for proper facilities that offer comfort and ease of transition for business and leisure travelers.
An important link in the Northeast Regional route, Newport News, Virginia’s previous station served the Hampton Roads metropolitan area for thirty years. In recent times, the station suffered from limited parking availability and poor access for people with disabilities. Its location in the southern tip of the city also left the station at a disadvantage due to connectivity issues with local bus transit.
The City of Newport News recognized the importance of upgrading this terminus. Plans for two new stations, one downtown and the other in a more central location, began in 2011. Throughout a years-long development phase, the smaller downtown station was dropped in favor of one intermodal station with proximity to Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, capable of handling train, bus, and eventual light-rail services. Construction began in 2020, and the Newport News Transportation Center opened in August, 2024.
Designed by Niles Bolton Associates, the new station supports multiple city and regional transit options. From this hub, passengers can access Hampton Roads Transit buses, airport shuttles, Amtrak Thruway buses to neighboring stations, and utilize long-term parking.
The main building is spacious, energy-efficient, and more ADA-compliant than the previous station. Glass walls allow natural light to illuminate the station during the day. The dramatic butterfly roof sweeping past the side exit provides shade and comfort for passengers boarding their trains. Tecta America Roof Services Corporation fabricated over 9200 square feet of ALPOLIC Bone White MCM for the roof’s fascia and soffits.
ALPOLIC Metal Composite Materials Help Transform Mass Transit
Going from Point A to Point B via train can involve more waiting than actual movement, depending on the time of year. When various delays impact rail travel, it’s important for stations and transit hubs to provide comfort. ALPOLIC metal composite materials are manufactured with beauty, durability and safety in mind.
Vibrant colors help create aesthetically pleasing spaces, and durable and safe materials offer shelter from the weather. Architects and designers have used ALPOLIC products to clad envelopes of transportation facilities such as Newport News Transportation Center, Brightline Station in Fort Lauderdale, and The Rapid Laker Line Operations Center in Grand Rapids. As dependence on public ground transportation continues to increase, so will the need for new and updated hubs. Sustainable ALPOLIC products, with an industry-leading warranty and the largest inventory of stock colors, can assist in meeting tight deadlines.
Learn more about the advantages of using ALPOLIC for your next community-centric project. Request an AIA presentation today.
Photos: Kat Lively
