London Bridge Station Redevelopment
Structural Designer
WSP and Arcadis
Client Name
Network Rail
Location
London, United Kingdom
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
Costain
ARCHITECT
Grimshaw
BRIDGE STEELWORK
Cleveland Bridge
CANOPY STEELWORK
Severfield Watson
Images: © Rick Roxburgh
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This transformation of a busy London station created a new station concourse that is the largest in the UK - bigger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium. Since the 1840s, the through platforms evolved separately from the terminus station, but this project united the two parts through a complex construction sequence that was designed to minimise disruption. All 15 platforms are longer than the nearby Shard is tall, having been realigned and provided with full-length undulating steel canopies.
Judge's comment:
The transformation of London Bridge station, the busiest in Europe, has enabled continuous operation while increasing, improving and modernising the transport services, as well as integrating the two halves of hitherto separate platform groupings consisting of through traffic and termini. Through a complex and sophisticated construction programme, the rail tracks and platforms were recreated sequentially on plate girders supported by concrete columns, constructed within excavated areas made available through the demolition of a swathe of old brick arches. Steel and aluminium framed bespoke canopies, of variable geometry to follow the track alignment, were constructed over the entire length of the platforms on transverse supports designed to cope with fatigue stresses induced by the bridge deflections. The skill of the structural engineering team has enabled this major infrastructure project to be completed with minimum disruption to services and passengers.