Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)

Before MARTA  passengers board their trains to their destinations, they now can gaze at Daktronics LED display signs in each of 38 rapid rail stations in downtown Atlanta,  Georgia. Imagine a scrolling text message near the base of the sign. MARTA informs the awaiting patron when they can anticipate the next available train at their location.    

The addition of advertising signage to the MARTA system is an innovative way to increase revenues to the system to cover operating expenses while preventing fare increases for MARTA passengers.MPI collaborated and coordination with MARTA personnel and other project participants to determine preapproved pathways within existing MARTA facilities. 

Southface Energy Institute (SEI) provides leadership to the energy conservation movement. The new Southface Eco Office is a prototypical ecological and sustainable building. Various businesses within the commercial construction industry have contributed resources to build a prototypical LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-compliant demonstration project in downtown Atlanta, GA.  Products as well as design services is bringing the latest technologies to large-sized residential and commercial builders. 

The U. S. Green Building Council has issued standards for the voluntary LEED pilot program. However, the national ecological atmosphere is trending towards the evolvution towards permanent national standards. 

Potential customers while they wait, receive messages from leading corporations (e.g. Coca-Cola, Apple, Atlanta-Journal Constitution). They are prominently located at entrances and exits of MARTA concourses and platforms. Additional signs are also installed within some of the busbay areas.  

Behind the scenes, MPI furnished the electrical plans for the power and data circuitry. Connections to MARTA's existing electrical distribution system needed to made to provide 120 VAC power to these electrical devices.   Communication signals are transmitted to the LED signs by fiberoptic and Ethernet (Category 5) cables.

SOUTHFACE ENERGY INSTITUTE 

SEI continues to educate and disseminate information. Southface Eco Office Southface is very community oriented. Educate decison makers so they can make an informed decisions.  SEI wants to assist buiders realize their construction alternatives so they can make informed decisions as they evaluate alternative techniques.

Modern Pyramids, Inc. supplied the electrical permitting documents. Atlanta-based Lord-Aeck-Sargent (LAS) firm is the project architect. Examples of LEED-type criteria include effective utilization of develoble land to minimize environmental impact, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality.

Lithonia Lighting and Georgia Power Co. were some of the major corporate sponsors. MPI incorporated a Lithonia lighting system which included many of their state-of-the art energy management building systems for the Eco Office design scheme.