Molded Grating Adds Aesthetic Touch to Train Station

In July of 2007, the Metrolink commuter train service in California opened a new station in Buena Park, Orange County. The station is part of a new trend of “transit-oriented” development that promotes building around stations as cities look to revitalize aging areas. The Buena Park station is expected to serve 500 people daily and liven up a stagnant area currently comprising industrial buildings, townhomes and a housing complex owned by the California State University, Fullerton.

The sophisticated station design included 680 foot passenger platforms, passenger waiting area canopies and an overpass with towers and elevators. With the station playing a key role in revitalization efforts, the project’s general contractor ACE Engineering, Inc. selected Strongwell’s 2”

DURAGRATE® molded grating to complement the modern design. DURAGRATE® is primarily used as floor grating, but the product’s attractive grid pattern made the molded grating an excellent choice for the architectural screening application.

Strongwell’s DURAGRATE® has high resin content (65%) that will provide the station extended maintenance free performance. The light weight panels are also very easy to fabricate. Strongwell distributor McNichols made fabrication even simpler by providing ACE cutting templates. Mike Coleman of McNichols stated “Use of the molded pattern greatly added to the overall appearance.”