CLIENT
City of Houston

BUILDING AREA
40,000 SF

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of Houston Northwest Transfer Facility, located at 14421 Sommermeyer Street, is a 7.5-acre site operated by the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) and designed to modernize and expand the City’s waste transfer capabilities.

The new facility includes a 40,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) transfer station, a 1,200-square-foot scale house, a 300-square-foot tarping station, and the continued operation of the existing neighborhood depository. The project’s design enhances efficiency, safety, and accessibility while maintaining ongoing depository operations throughout construction.

The facility layout prioritizes efficient vehicle queuing, maneuvering, and ramp access to the tipping floor, with strategic entry and exit points to optimize traffic flow and maintain separation between public and operational areas. To improve operational performance, the design incorporates a partial grade separation system, allowing approximately six feet of elevation difference between the tipping floor and the trailer loadout tunnel to achieve faster and more efficient waste transfer.

The compact site required careful planning to balance functionality, compliance with TCEQ setback and detention requirements, and minimal impact to surrounding neighborhoods. Design challenges included accommodating the turning radii of 18-wheelers, ensuring safe pedestrian and staff circulation, minimizing retaining wall use to reduce cost, and maintaining adequate slope limits for maneuverability.

Through thoughtful grading, phased construction, and efficient site organization, the project successfully meets the City’s operational needs while supporting SWMD’s long-term goals for improved service, environmental responsibility, and community impact.