CUSTOM SUNSET SHELTERS ANCHOR VIRGINIA TECH’S NEW MULTI-MODAL TRANSIT CENTER
LOCATION
Blacksburg is a vibrant college town in the New River Valley of Virginia, anchored by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, one of the nation’s leading research universities. With a campus community of students, faculty, and staff numbering in the tens of thousands, reliable, high-capacity transit is essential to daily life and campus connectivity.
Blacksburg Transit provides fixed-route service across the Virginia Tech campus and surrounding community. To meet growing demand and modernize its operations, Blacksburg Transit undertook a major multi-modal transit facility improvement project, creating a central transportation hub designed to consolidate routes, improve accessibility, and upgrade the overall rider experience.
PROJECT SCOPE
Tolar Manufacturing partnered with Virginia Tech and Blacksburg Transit to design, manufacture, and deliver fifteen custom Sunset shelters for the new multi-modal Transit Center in the heart of Virginia Tech’s academic core. Construction on the facility began in 2021, with Tolar collaborating directly with project architects Wendel during the design phase beginning in 2019. The Transit Center opened ahead of the 2024 fall semester, providing students and the surrounding North Academic District with improved shelter and amenities before the winter months.
The Sunset shelters were delivered in lengths of 24, 48, and 72 feet, with 8-foot-deep roofs, front overhangs, and white twin-wall polycarbonate roof panels sized for maximum coverage at high-volume stops. Varied column heights accommodate installation on sloped pads. Custom mixed wall panels feature perforated aluminum, logo dots, and logo glass to support high visibility and security while aligning with Blacksburg Transit’s visual identity.
Rider amenities include 120VAC electric lighting, USB charging stations, durable aluminum Mesa benches, and Mesa lean rails. The Transit Center features two fully accessible paved bus loops serving as the central hub for all Blacksburg Transit routes on campus, with ADA-compliant ramps on all buses for easy boarding.
