The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority’s Allentown Transportation Center (LANTA ATC) is an innovative new transit plaza that prioritizes sustainable strategies and public enjoyment for the commuters of the Lehigh Valley. The design was developed through a multi-party partnership among LANTA, the Allentown Parking Authority, and The City of Allentown, and was financed by the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority (ANIZDA). This 1.64-acre plaza serves as the central hub for LANTA, with 3,000 passenger trips daily. The central configuration of the pavilion allows riders to make bus transfers without leaving the platform; in the previous configuration, they had to walk two blocks away to transfer.

The plaza’s standout feature is its origami-inspired bus shelter pavilion, designed by the submitting landscape architect. It features an undulating green roof that captures stormwater to offset the impermeable pavement below. Because of required clearances and paving for bus circulation, the shelter uses the pavilion as a device for greening the plaza and infusing it with vibrant color. The structure reduces stormwater runoff with an approximate 7,508-gallon capacity by incorporating a living green roof consisting of more than a dozen species of sedum plants, as well as water collection and drainage along columns. The sedum planting also contributes to the reduction of the urban heat island effect.

The design team worked with transportation authorities to develop signage, A/V placement, and LED lighting to illuminate and enhance the function of the transit hub. On the ground, the pavilion features comfortable new ADA-accessible furnishings, as well as bike racks that double as lean rails to maximize comfort while users wait for their bus.

A new mural depicting native plants and hummingbirds adds color to the plaza, while brightly colored structural forms inspired by atomic-age signage create a nostalgic yet contemporary feel. Native grasses and bright pink plantings create lush gardens, and a mass of ferns frames the plaza with spore-producing native plants that will continue to establish over time. The second phase of the project, which was completed in Spring 2022, includes a new north-south streetscape with bus pavilions, signage, and reconfigured bus bays, adding life and color to the previously dull concrete landscape.

The project is a public-private partnership between LANTA and ANIZDA, which made it possible to switch land for residential and support the cost of bus station improvements.

Sitting adjacent to a new 250-unit residential building and courtyard, the terminal is an important hub for the community and offers valuable functional design for the whole of Allentown, which is the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and the fastest-growing city in the state. The plaza introduces an updated, contemporary design for residents, visitors, and commuters of the Lehigh Valley, establishing a sense of joy, comfort, and safety in a place where such elements had long been absent.

Project Partners:

• Owner – Allentown Parking Authority
• Master Developer – Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority (ANIZDA)
• Landscape Architect – Omnes
• Tenant / Operator – LANTA (Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority)
• Architect of Record – Bernardon
• Civil Engineer  – RETTEW Associates
• Traffic Engineer – McMahon & Associates
• Electrical Engineer – Diefenderfer
• Structural Engineer – MacIntosh Engineering
• Lighting Designer – Diversified Lighting
• Contractor – North Star Construction Management Inc.