A registered architect in several states across the west, Merlin Maley has exclusively worked as a transportation architect for nearly nine years. This focus is driven by his passion for sustainable cities and communities. While at RNL, Maley has been elevated three times and wears many hats, including project manager, project architect, designer and sustainability champion.
Sustainable design is inherent to transit systems and transit providers. Robust transit systems benefit communities by providing access to key services like health care, entertainment districts and daily mobility. These systems also reduce the demands on public infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. By bringing high levels of sustainable design to transit facilities, annual operational costs can be dramatically reduced, but more importantly, sustainable design directly improves culture and morale.
Maley was project architect and sustainability champion for the Emil ‘Lucky’ Reznik Administration, Maintenance and Operations Facility in South Bend, Indiana, which achieved LEED Platinum Certification. Despite being more than twice as large as its predecessor, the facility has reduced annual utility costs by 30 percent. Morale is improved from working in a new facility and a wellness program has been created. More employees are walking or biking to work while also taking advantage of the fitness center inside the facility. Currently Maley is design manager and the main point of contact for the project manager for Utah Transit Authority’s new Depot District Service Center. The project consists of remodeling an existing 1920s era brick locomotive maintenance building into a bus maintenance facility and an administration and operations addition. The facility is designed to service 150 buses initially, eventually growing to 250 buses. The project is being designed to be net-zero energy. Energy conservation design strategies are paramount in the overall approach. Photovoltaic solar panels will supplement the energy demand and will be placed over all bus canopies.
Maley is dedicated to helping to build more sustainable communities by helping transit agencies build new facilities to meet their ever-growing needs and desires. His participation and leadership in his local community and nationally are inherent to his personal goals and values. His dedication to exceeding his client’s expectations and desires drive him every day and will continue to motivate him over the course of his transit architect career.
An active member of RNL’s leadership team, Maley also contributes his time and energy to industry and community activities, including the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). A graduate of the 2013 Leadership APTA program, Maley has presented multiple times at APTA conferences. Additionally he is involved in the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies, the Southwest Transit Association, the Denver Chamber of Commerce’s Transit Alliance, the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Transportation Development Council, and is a past chair of the Committee on the Environment for the American Institute of Architects Denver chapter.
“I most enjoy the overall process of working with transit agencies to not only conceptualize and construct their project, but also in engaging them from the beginning to determine the values behind their project for constant use through the project’s duration. These values are accountability measures, but more so, they truly can push a project beyond initial aspirations and create collaborative decision making and open dialog.”
“Public transit ties together my passions for incredible cities and spaces and sustainable architectural & landscape design. Transit systems are helping to create 21st century cities and communities while decreasing the dependence on the automobile for mobility.”
“[I would like to see] Less projects being delivered by lowest cost design build project delivery. This process is not a collaborative process between the owners, the end users and the design team.”
“Travelling with my wife and fly fishing — these 2 activities will take us all over the world for decades to come. Fly fishing teaches patience, tolerance, mastery of a skill, and attention to detail all while seeing the most incredible eco-systems the planet has to offer.”
