In recent years there has been a great push by many organizations for more people to utilize public transportation. Concerns have been raised about global warming and the effect gas-powered vehicles have on the environment. The solution offered by these organizations is to reduce the number of vehicles being driven. In doing so, there is a greater demand for bus and train access. This need for access has affected more than the public life it has brought a new concern to Landscape Architects. To sell the use of public transportation, people need to feel comfortable waiting for a scheduled bus or train. In comes the Landscape Architect. Options Abound Without paying much attention to mass-transit shelters, a person might think that they are all the same; not to Arthur Cohen of Columbia Equipment Company, Inc. In Cohen's experience, many people think ordering a shelter is as easy as flipping through the pages of a catalog. In some cases this is true, however the result can be less than satisfactory. Cohen suggests the best shelter designs are customized for each particular site. There are so many different designs and shelter components to consider that it would be difficult to have ?EUR??,,????'??universal?EUR??,,????'?? ready-made shelters immediately available that can be shipped the day they are ordered. Materials vary as much as the styles. Roof Coverings Cohen's company offers various types of roofs. Some options available include: aluminum or fiberglass flat roofs, bubble skylight roofs, vaulted, hipped and gabled roofs or a custom design to fit the needs of the project. The flat roof is the cheapest option offered by the company. In order for these to be effective they must be installed with a slight pitch to allow water to drain properly. Though the flat roof may be rudimentary in form and less appealing visually, it is effective nonetheless when on a tight budget. The bubble skylight roof is generally a dome shape, which gives it more strength than other options. They can be molded with a tinted or translucent plexiglass. The benefit of a bubble skylight is its affordability and usefulness in allowing light into the shelter while redirecting both rain and snow. Alternate skylight roofs can be hipped or barrel-vault shaped. With greater interest in traditional architectural styles standing seam hipped-metal roofs have become popular. If a custom roof is ordered, almost anything can be done, such as one project Cohen created with a ?EUR??,,????'??flying wing?EUR??,,????'?? roof. ?EUR??,,????'??The walls are not even attached to the roof,?EUR??,,????'?? he said. ?EUR??,,????'??The walls float while the roof is attached to posts which are either internal or external to the wall and have a plate on the top. The roof seems to float above the shelter and is at an angle.?EUR??,,????'?? The sectional roof also has chamfered ends. ?EUR??,,????'??So it's like a series of trapezoids or rectangles with diagonally cut corners where you see little ?EUR??,,????'??v's?EUR??,,????'?? at each end. The sections of the roof are in line with one another but at an angle not horizontal,?EUR??,,????'?? Cohen said. Window Materials In terms of bus shelters, it is wise to design shelters with windows for each wall of the structure. The main reason for this is visibility. Potential users will want to see if their bus is coming. Likewise, a bus driver will want to see if there are people waiting for the bus. Window options include: acrylic, polycarbonate plastic, mar resistant polycarbonate, high impact tempered glass, or laminated shatter-resistant glass. Acrylic windows can be used if cost is an issue. They are readily available, can be cut to fit any dimensions and are less prone to breaking. On the down side, the acrylic windows are susceptible to damage caused by the sun and by scratching -- another form of graffiti that can be more destructive than paint in some instances. Polycarbonate plastic windows are even stronger and less breakable when compared to acrylic windows; as for cost, they tend to be much more expensive. If vandalism is a key concern these windows may not be the complete answer. They are very easily scratched and damaged by graffiti. Mar resistant polycarbonates are even more expensive, yet more resistant to scratches and easier to clean off graffiti. Tempered safety glass seems to be the most popular choice, according to Cohen. Its popularity is due to its resistance to scratches, its cost effectiveness and it is very easy to maintain. Much like other glass windows however, it has a greater chance of being broken. To combat this tendency, a person could have laminated or wire glass installed, but they are rarely used. Framing Materials According to Cohen, shelters can be made out of almost anything: concrete, brick, steel, wood, fiberglass, or aluminum. ?EUR??,,????'??We chose aluminum because aluminum can be extruded,?EUR??,,????'?? Cohen said. ?EUR??,,????'??With an extrusion you can have a lot of what would normally be many different parts in one part. You can have grooves, and fins, and little attachment clips, and recesses all built into one part so there are less seams, less fasteners, and less places that it can leak.?EUR??,,????'?? Another bonus is that aluminum has half the weight of steel for the comparable strength. He also adds that with aluminum you have a wider range of available finishes. You can powder-coat paint it or you can annodize it, which you can't do with other materials. The end result is a greater number of choices for the customer. Preparation Is Key The most important part to ordering any sort of shelter is being prepared. Cohen's suggestion is to have an understanding of what type of shelter is desired, the number of people it will be servicing, the size of the location where it will be installed, the architectural style desired, and most importantly the budget range. If the site is located in a predominantly windy area, a shelter that is more enclosed might be desirable. When figuring the number of people the shelter should accommodate, Cohen's suggestion is to allow four or five square feet for each person. This leads into the size of the location. Most shelters do not have a standard size they can be custom ordered. This allows the Landscape Architect to order a shelter that will fit the location. Cohen recalled a project where an individual described the size, wall configuration and appearance of what he wanted. Cohen gave him a quote, sold him a shelter, and after it was installed the client wanted to know why it was so small. ?EUR??,,????'??Well, we don't have x-ray vision,?EUR??,,????'?? said Cohen. ?EUR??,,????'??You have to describe the site to us.?EUR??,,????'?? Finally, comes style and budget. Although standard and customized designs are available, a truly custom design may result in a shelter that will be more closely matched to the site it is installed at. Every part can be customized, right down to the finish and paint color, even grill work, scroll work and logos can be incorporated. To further customize a shelter, accessories can be added including benches, display panels, trash recepticles, etc. The more custom work ordered though, the more the shelter will cost. Know what the budget limits are and tell the manufacturer this information up front.