Garver aids ARDOT with new vision for information centers
A collection of new information centers designed to be modern, safe, and energy-efficient now greet travelers at three sites along Arkansas’s interstates.
Garver designed three Tourist Information Centers (TIC) for the Arkansas Department of Transportation, which wanted to replace rest areas that had been in use since the 1950s. The 4,000-square-feet TICs feature spacious lobbies fronted by 18-feet glass entryways that allow natural light and touch-screen monitors that inform visitors of nearby accommodations, news, and weather.
“The relationship between Garver and ARDOT goes back several decades,” said Garver Architectural Team Leader John Ramsey. “But this showcases our ability to deliver building designs, along with roads and bridges, to all DOTs.”
Garver provided architectural and interior design services, as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural engineering for prototype facilities that were adapted to three sites. To help ARDOT secure federal funding, the designs and three bid packages that would typically take a year were completed in less than six months.
Exterior and interior materials were carefully selected to ensure the facilities require little maintenance, while high-mounted light fixtures and vending behind specially designed metal cages minimize potential vandalism.
Garver helped the Arkansas Department of Transportation revitalize interstate rest areas at three locations by designing visually-appealing Tourist Information Centers (TIC) that are durable, energy efficient, functional, and secure for the public. The 4,000 square-feet TICs along Interstates 30 and 40 replaced previous facilities that were more than 50 years old with a visitor center, picnic shelters, and restrooms. Garver first developed prototype TIC designs that could be adapted to each site, and the interiors of the new facilities feature high ceilings to allow for natural light that increases energy efficiency, wall mural maps of the area, and interactive touch screens. The centers now welcome visitors traveling through Arkansas in Prairie, Johnson, Pope, and Hot Springs County.
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