Designers engaged for UK HS2 stations 08 Feb 2018

Arup and WSP have been chosen to design the four new phase one stations for the new HS2 high speed rail link in the UK. With contracts worth a combined value of £70 million, the designers have been awarded two stations each. Arup is to design Birmingham Interchange and London Euston while WSP was awarded Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street.

Artist’s impression of new concourse at Euston

Also bidding but unsuccessful were; Mott MacDonald for Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common, Arcadis for London Euston and Birmingham Interchange, and the JV Jacobs-BuroHappold-Idom Merebrook for Birmingham Curzon Street, Birmingham Interchange and Old Oak Common.

Arup will partner with Grimshaw Architects for the London Euston design and Arup Associates and Wilkinson Eyre Architects Limited for Birmingham Interchange, while WSP is to work with Wilkinson Eyre Architects on Old Oak Common and Grimshaw Architects for Birmingham Curzon Street.

The winning teams have experience of complex international infrastructure projects, having worked on projects such as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in the UK, The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, Biljmer Arena station in the Netherlands, and the new concourse at London Kings Cross station.

The construction of the four new stations in London and Birmingham and development of the surrounding environs will create 130,000 new jobs and 30,000 new homes.

“HS2 will provide vital links between some of our biggest cities, improving services for passengers with thousands more seats on faster trains,” said Nusrat Ghani, HS2 Minister. “I am confident that these firms will deliver these projects at value for money, with designs that are both innovative and in keeping with their surroundings.”

“The new stations in London and Birmingham will increase capacity, improve journeys and provide opportunities for tens of thousands of new jobs and homes around what will be four new landmark buildings,” said Mark Thurston, HS2 Chief Executive. “I look forward to working with the designers to create station designs which showcase world-class architecture, ease of use and value for money for our passengers and communities.”

The contractors designing the new stations will seek input from local communities, take inspiration from similar projects worldwide, and have their plans assessed by an independent panel of leading architects and designers.

The brief from HS2 called on the designers to create plans that are people-centred with shopping, business facilities, and opportunities for art and leisure, and accessible for all with easy to navigate step-free access from street-to-seat. Plans are also to accommodate future changes in technology and the population and include references from the local built and natural environment, using local materials and encouraging local people to identify with their station.

“We look forward to working with the designers and HS2 to help deliver iconic stations which set new standards in design and ease of use, and provide a legacy of great architecture of which Britain can be truly proud,” said Sadie Morgan, DrMM Architects, Chair of HS2 design panel.

HS2 services from London and Birmingham will travel beyond the new high speed network via existing tracks to a wide range of destinations including Liverpool, The North West, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.