The Challenge:
The existing 1960’s bus station was a shabby, rundown inadequate structure, an eyesore in the city centre. Its replacement and the redevelopment of the surrounding area was eagerly awaited by Gloucestershire people who had been disillusioned and frustrated for years as consecutive developers considered the project unviable.
Constructed on a live site, in a complex urban historic environment within a restricted city centre, specific challenges surrounding the project involved the council acquiring the land themselves, then the demolition of an existing building. There were planning restrictions; extensive archaeological surveys; ground contamination; unexpected and complicated service diversions; highway changes and a challenging budget.
In addition, complex changes to the road system had to be reconfigured to improve traffic flows at a key junction opposite the railway station, adjacent to the site.
Whist construction took place the existing bus station had to remain fully functioning with bus routes and stops unaltered.
The Solution:
Kier worked collaboratively with the client, architect, subcontractors and end-users to produce a value-for-money, high-quality 21st-century landmark building, delivered on budget and to programme.
Solutions to service diversions involved re-scheduling the building’s accommodation whilst retaining all original functionality and value-engineering methods such as sourcing alternative robust specifications reduced costs.
The innovative design of the roof was a complex engineering challenge: a 78-degree mast supports the canopy which required extensive temporary propping before the critical load transference onto permanent supporting bars took place. Propping removed, the deflection measured exactly as the engineers designed.
Reflecting Gloucester’s Roman heritage a colonnade of columns runs the length of the interior and a section of a 1900-year-old Roman wall discovered in the archaeological dig features as a public display.
Gloucester’s aviation heritage is celebrated in the dramatic concourse canopy which resembles an aircraft wing; punctuated at points, it allows light to flood into the interior.
The Impact:
The building is a stunning interpretation of the brief which was to deliver an iconic yet affordable transport hub which pays homage to Gloucester’s history.
The occupiers Stagecoach, and passengers, have given the new hub an extremely enthusiastic reception. Public reaction is extremely positive, and the hub has itself become a tourist attraction.
The building’s sustainable features include photovoltaics which produce power with the excess sold back to the grid. Changes in the road system have improved traffic flow and created a proper link from the hospital to the city centre. And the project itself has become a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area.
The 46-week build programme facilitated a local spend of £2.3m in labour and materials, engaging with 60 local trades-people, apprentices and trainees at the height of construction.
At the 2018 construction ‘Open Doors’ event, the hub was the most visited site outside London.
" We were really impressed with what Kier could offer and how they also want to have that local focus. So, it wasn’t about a business based somewhere on the other side of the galaxy, it was about those people relationships and the trust and that constant dialogue and communication: that’s only down to the people involved. "Managing Director Stagecoach West
View more projects
Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.