$33M Facility Sets New Industry Standard for Waste and Recycling Management
PHILADELPHIA, PA [January 8, 2026] – Marking a major milestone for urban infrastructure, the City of Philadelphia recently commemorated completion of its new, state-of-the-art Northwest Transfer Station, a $33 million facility with designs by DIGroup Architecture (DIG) in consultation with Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC). The highly modern and efficient complex, located at Domino Lane and Umbria Street, replaces a 55-year-old operation and represents a significant improvement in the City’s sanitation and recycling services.
Central to the operational efficiency of the Northwest section of Philadelphia, the new 21,500-square-foot transfer station is designed to handle a significant capacity of 550 tons of trash and 100 tons of recyclable material per day and is integral to transforming waste management processes in the area. DIG was tasked with designing the office space as well as assembling all disciplines related to the project, including specialty consultants.
The modernization addresses critical needs for improved collection efficiency, reduced vehicle downtime and a decreased environmental footprint, including lower vehicle emissions and fuel use. Tarping stations, vehicular scales and rainwater gardens for the site’s stormwater management plan were also incorporated.
“The opportunity to design a facility that has such a direct and positive impact on urban infrastructure and community quality of life is central to our firm’s mission,” said Vince Myers, DIG president and a co-founding principal. “This project was about more than just a new building; it was about designing a robust, resilient and technologically advanced system that directly supports the dedicated Sanitation Department team members, enabling them to provide cleaner, more reliable service to the neighborhoods they serve.”
Addressing Complex Architectural and Operational Challenges
The design of a modern waste transfer station is influenced by a multitude of physical, regulatory and operational factors. The team addressed several key architectural challenges to ensure the Northwest Transfer Station is effective, efficient and safe for decades to come, with DIG’s Paul Graebener, senior project manager, driving its completion through construction. Areas of focus included:
Capacity and volume management: The physical layout was meticulously designed to handle the combined volume of 650 tons per day (TPD) – 550 TPD of trash and 100 TPD of recycling – while ensuring a smooth, continuous flow of vehicles and materials through the facility.
Safety and durability: Designing for the intense industrial environment was paramount. This included the specification of highly durable materials for critical components such as the tipping floor design and push wall height to withstand constant heavy vehicle traffic and abrasive materials, minimizing structural wear and ensuring worker safety.
Material separation: A key design challenge was integrating the separation of material streams. The facility’s layout allows for the efficient and dedicated transfer of recyclable materials alongside solid waste, eliminating long-distance travel between sites and significantly improving collection efficiency.
Operational flexibility: The architecture ensures the facility is adaptable to evolving fleet needs, accommodating both current vehicle types and potential future equipment or operational process changes. This flexibility is supported by the new Top-Loading Waste Operations system (the current industry standard).
“These architectural solutions also required seamless integration with technology and environmental planning,” explained Swarupa Samant, DIG principal. “In this type of environment, considerations related to advanced fire suppression, automated data management and environmental compliance – to name a few areas – are critically imperative.”
This latest project delivery also broadens DIG’s expanding portfolio within the Greater Philadelphia Region. A leading design firm founded in 2006 and guided by a philosophy of Architecture for Change, DIG established an office in the city in 2019 to strengthen its client relationships and presence.
Focused on impactful and sustainable architecture, interior and environmental design solutions, DIG is focused on the PK-12 and higher education, healthcare, senior living, community and civic spaces and airport sectors.
Most recently, the firm completed extensive renovations at the Cobbs Creek and Paschalville branches of the Philadelphia Public Library; designed a nursing simulator and expanded classroom spaces at Community College of Philadelphia; helped shape the Budd BioWorks redevelopment strategic plan; and finalized renovation of the Edwin Forrest Elementary School for the School District of Philadelphia, which underwent a $22M transformation. DIG is also working with the Allentown School District in the Lehigh Valley.
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