Western New York Welcome Center

As a subconsultant on a term contract for New York State Thruway Authority, Azar Design Co provided site, civil, and transportation engineering services for the construction of a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired, one-story, 12,628-square-foot Western New York Welcome Center located between the I-190 southbound ramp and Alvin Road in Grand Island, NY. The Welcome Center serves as a gateway to destinations and historic sites across the region, featuring a Great Lakes shipwreck-themed children’s play area, an I LOVE NY sculpture, electric vehicle charging stations, a motorcycle shelter, a pet comfort area, and parking for cars, buses, RVs, and trucks.

Azar’s scope included site layout, traffic analysis, grading and drainage design, water service planning, permitting, construction documentation, cost estimating, and Work Zone Traffic Control (WZTC) plans. We provided traffic count summaries, analyzed vehicular circulation, designed lane widths and curvature, and handled grading for the surrounding driveways, parking areas, and stormwater management, green infrastructure, and landscape areas. Additionally, we developed construction plans for fire and domestic backflow prevention and designed an 8-foot retaining wall for the bus parking lot. Signage, striping, and wayfinding signs were strategically placed on Alvin Road to ensure clear navigation. The project was completed with cost estimates to ensure adherence to budget constraints.