Factoria Recycling & Transfer Station

When King County, WA, decided to replace the 1960’s-era Factoria Transfer Station, they reached out to JRMA to provide architectural and structural engineering design services. Located on a steep, wooded lot, the new facility features clean lines, tinted glazing, and copper finished wall panels that complement the wooded surroundings.

The fully enclosed recycling and transfer station includes a processing area for trash, a recycling processing area, a Household Hazardous Waste collection area, and a maintenance shop. In the transfer station area, two compactors and one open-top will provide three-day storage capacity for trash with under-floor bays for container parking. This will reduce the number of truck trips to and from the station by about 30 percent compared to the old facility. In addition, the new station offers a more flexible design that will allow a larger variety of materials to be captured for recycling.

The new facility features sustainable design features, including windows and skylights to provide natural light, recycled-content building materials, and a site design compliant with local Salmon-Safe goals. Together, these elements of the project target a LEED Gold rating.