Meridian Transport Hub
/2021
A ninety-metre CLT roof vaults a light-filled concourse where rail, bus, bike, and ride-hail platforms converge in a seamless, universally accessible spine. Bird-safe glazing, recycled-glass terrazzo, and rain-fed fountains redefine civic transport architecture as both carbon-smart infrastructure and uplifting public realm.
Project Gallery
Timescales
Replacement of the busy rail concourse occurred during live operations, relying on carefully planned night possessions spanning 12 months.
Stage-two works added a bus deck and cycle super-highway ramps, reaching substantial completion at month 26, followed by a six-week sprint to install kiosks and public art.
The grand opening was timed to coincide with the city’s annual transport festival and the launch of a new integrated timetable, maximising media exposure.
Objectives
Reduce door-to-door commute times by integrating rail, bus, bicycle, and ride-hail platforms under a single weather-proof concourse spine.
Achieve exemplary universal design, including Bluetooth beacon navigation for visually impaired travellers and tactile basalt paving edges throughout the hub.
Generate diversified revenue streams through curated micro-retail units and a rooftop solar PV leasing arrangement with a local energy cooperative.
Materials
Oversized CLT panels form a pleated roof supported by steel vierendeel trusses, and all glazing carries bird-safe frit recognised by ornithology groups.
Platform canopies glow after dark thanks to translucent GRP panels powered by thin-film PV laminates bonded to their upper surface.
Ticket halls are clad in vibrant recycled-glass terrazzo that embeds LED displays showing real-time departure and arrival data.
Challenges
Night-time lifts of 20-tonne CLT roof panels over live tracks required acoustic tents to protect nearby residents from construction noise.
Revised fire codes mandated full-scale CLT-steel composite burn tests, delaying component procurement by six weeks and compressing later tasks.
A last-minute municipal ride-hail policy shift forced kerb allocation changes and overnight bollard relocation just days before opening.