Maringá Urban Intermodal Terminal | Borelli&Merigo Arquitetura e Urbanismo

The Maringá Urban Intermodal Terminal, designed by Borelli & Merigo Arquitetura e Urbanismo, brings several modes of transport together in one building in the centre of Maringá, a planned city in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Opened on 28 February 2020, the terminal handles dozens of urban bus routes, is planned to host a passenger rail service, and adds shops and a pedestrian route above the platforms. It also forms part of a wider effort to revive the city centre. This review explains the layout, structure and environmental design of the terminal and what Pakistani cities can learn from it as they invest in bus rapid transit, metro and rail.

What an Intermodal Terminal Does

An intermodal terminal is a place where passengers change easily between different forms of transport, such as buses, trains, taxis, bicycles and walking. Good terminals shorten transfer distances, keep passengers sheltered and safe, and make the whole network feel like a single system.

• Integration. Several services meet under one roof, so transfers are quick.
• Capacity. Platforms and circulation must handle peak-hour crowds.
• Urban role. A terminal can anchor regeneration, bringing footfall and investment to a district.
• Comfort. Shade, ventilation, seating and information make waiting tolerable.

Maringá: A Planned City

Maringá was founded in the mid-twentieth century as a planned city, with a master plan that includes green avenues, parks and a monumental axis through the centre. The terminal was designed to fit into this plan. Its mezzanine aligns with the monumental axis identified in the municipal master plan, and the project is intended as a model for reviving the central area stretching between the cathedral and the Vila Olímpica sports complex.

The design also references the city’s history. Three arches on the building pay tribute to the city’s former bus station, giving residents a familiar symbol in a new structure.

Layout: Three Levels, Three Roles

Stacking functions vertically uses a central site efficiently. Buses and trains are kept on separate levels, while the mezzanine links them and adds shops that serve passengers and generate income.

Structure: Steel on Prefabricated Columns

The terminal uses a modern steel structure supported by prefabricated columns. This combination is well suited to transport buildings:

• Steel trusses and beams span long distances, keeping platforms free of obstructions.
• Prefabricated columns are made off-site to consistent quality and installed quickly.
• Fast erection reduces disruption in a busy city centre.
• A lightweight roof reduces loads on foundations.

The project credits SOLUTEC Engenharia de Estruturas for the steel structure and DPLAN Engenharia for the concrete structure, showing how different specialists collaborate on hybrid structures.

The Double Roof: Light and Air

The terminal’s second roof layer emphasises its horizontal form and has been compared to a wave or a sharp eye. It is more than a visual feature. The gap and profile of the double roof let in generous daylight and encourage cross-ventilation, which reduces the need for artificial lighting and mechanical cooling.

Why ventilation matters in bus terminals

Bus terminals collect exhaust fumes and heat from engines. Good natural ventilation, helped by roof openings and the stack effect, keeps air quality acceptable for waiting passengers and staff. Shade from a wide roof is equally important in hot, sunny climates.

Glass, Colour and Comfort

On the mezzanine, laminated glass with a grey PVB interlayer between clear glass sheets was used. This glass type reflects part of the solar energy, reduces noise from buses and traffic, and improves thermal comfort. Laminated glass also holds together if broken, which makes it safer in public buildings.

The red colour of the design refers to the ipê trees that cover Maringá in colour when they flower. Using a local reference like this gives the building a strong identity and connects it to the city’s landscape.

Designing Bus Platforms for Passengers

With around seventy routes using the ground level, platform design is central to how well the terminal works. Several principles apply to any large bus interchange.

Clear platform allocation

Routes should be grouped logically, for example by destination area, with each group on a clearly signed platform. Passengers should be able to find their bus quickly without crossing bus lanes.

Real-time information

Departure screens and announcements reduce uncertainty and crowding at the wrong stops. They also let passengers wait in shops or seating areas rather than standing at the kerb.

Boarding comfort

Platforms at the right height for low-floor buses make boarding faster and easier for older people, wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs. Wide platforms leave room for queues without blocking through movement.

Shelter and seating

A continuous roof over platforms keeps passengers out of rain and sun. Seating, drinking water and clean toilets make long waits bearable.

Bus movement

Buses need enough space to enter, dock and leave without reversing, and layover areas for drivers. Separating bus routes from pedestrian areas avoids conflict and improves safety.

Terminal Design Options Compared

Planning a Transport Terminal

Safety and Accessibility

Transport terminals must be safe for large crowds, including people with disabilities, older passengers and families with children. Key requirements include:

• Step-free access between all levels, with lifts and ramps
• Tactile paving and clear signage for visually impaired passengers
• Separation of bus lanes and pedestrian areas
• Well-lit platforms and good passive surveillance
• Fire detection, smoke control and escape routes designed to principles such as those of NFPA

Lessons for Pakistan

Pakistani cities have made major investments in mass transit, including metro bus and rail systems in Lahore, Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Multan and Peshawar. Integration between these systems and city bus networks is still developing. The Maringá terminal offers practical lessons:

• Integrate modes in one building. Put bus, metro and rail transfers under one roof.
• Design for heat and fumes. Wide roofs, natural ventilation and shade are vital in Pakistan’s summers.
• Add commercial space. Shops above or beside platforms help pay for maintenance.
• Use steel and precast. These speed construction in busy areas, but must be designed for seismic loads under the Building Code of Pakistan.
• Link to city plans. Terminals should support regeneration plans prepared by authorities such as the LDA.

For more infrastructure reviews, see our articles on Techo International Airport and New Gwadar International Airport. ACCO’s structural design services and construction services cover large-span public and commercial buildings, priced through an itemised BOQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Maringá Urban Intermodal Terminal shows how a transport building can do more than move buses. By stacking rail, bus and commercial levels, using a ventilated double roof and drawing on local history and landscape, Borelli & Merigo created a terminal that serves passengers and helps revive the centre of a planned city. For cities in Pakistan planning new interchanges, it is a useful reference for combining capacity, comfort and civic presence in one building.