IMEG is providing structural engineering design services for the Silver Line Rail Yard and Maintenance Facility at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in Loudoun County, VA. The project includes multiple primary buildings and outbuildings used to service rail cars and maintenance of way vehicles on a 90-acre complex. 

The Silver Line is a joint effort by the MWAA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to extend the existing Metrorail system 23 miles from East Falls Church to Washington Dulles International Airport.  

The Rail Yard and Maintenance Facility, a design-build project, is used to maintain, inspect, and repair rail cars and maintenance vehicles. The complex includes: 

• 211,000-sf Services and Inspection Building (SIB) 
• 68,000-sf Maintenance of Way Building (MWB) 
• 34,590-sf Transportation/Police Building 
• 14,750-sf Train Wash Facility (TWF) 
• 2,100-sf Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF) 

A significant portion of the project site is committed to at-grade rail tracks, supporting infrastructure, rail car storage, exterior railcar maintenance, and non-railcar access to maintenance facilities.  

The rail yard buildings are steel insulated precast concrete wall panels. Each interior space is detailed to meet specific project requirements including heavy shop areas, clean room, train truck washing area, paint booth, specialized shop and storage areas, and office areas. Special equipment required to maintain the rail cars and tracks includes overhead cranes, train car lift, paint booth, and other specialized equipment. 

The three main buildings are pursuing LEED Silver certification.