The Rosa Parks Transit Center provides a state-of-the-art transit area for bus riders and is another key component in the revitalization of downtown Detroit. The Transit Center has become the new central terminal for the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and features a 25,700 square foot building with retail space, indoor passenger waiting areas (with real-time arrival and departure information), and a cashier area all with round-the-clock security.

At the heart of the Center is a 64,000 square foot custom tensile structure made of Teflon-coated fiberglass (PTFE) fabric. The mast-supported structure consists of seven A-frames which are 96 feet tall and 60 feet wide at the base. Each one weighs over 36,000 pounds. There are also eight 26 foot tall trusses that are 116 feet long and weigh over 28,000 pounds. The structure utilizes over 12,000 lineal feet of steel cables.

The unique structure provides enormous aesthetic appeal as well as shade and weather protection. Nic Goldsmith, Senior Principal of FTL Design also notes its environmentally friendly features. “There are catch basins at various points on the low rings of the structure where rain water is collected and ultimately reused for irrigation. In addition, by utilizing a translucent PTFE fabric it eliminates the need for artificial light during the day.”