HDR designs Iowa’s largest transfer station for the long haul

Des Moines, Iowa — The meticulous design was turned around quickly to meet Metro Waste Authority's need for a transfer station in the western suburbs of the Des Moines metro area. Modeled after Metro Waste Authority's award-winning Metro Central Transfer Station, designed by an HDR team years earlier, Metro Northwest Transfer Station is built to manage a high volume of municipal solid waste using the industry's latest technology, while maintaining the industry-leading safety and environmental performance standards Metro Waste Authority is known for.

What started as HDR providing design services for the transfer station grew to be more like an engineer-procure-construct role, including planning, bidding, zoning, environmental, contract administration and quality assurance. Working alongside Metro Waste Authority, HDR put a new spin on the traditional transfer station.

Tipping floor hopper areas use structural steel embeds within concrete and a cementitious metallic topping to improve rigidity and durability, giving this high impact area a longer life. The tipping floor has built-in wear indicator bars so Metro Waste Authority can monitor the floor's condition and plan ahead for replacement. High-speed doors and an indoor tarping area are essential in minimizing windblown litter and protecting the staff and transfer trailer equipment during winter months, and automation technology enables the entire transfer station to operate under the direction of a single onsite employee.

Now serving the community, Metro Northwest Transfer Station is capable of processing 2,000 tons of waste every day.