Software creates iconic station entrance

Steelwork contractor William Hare has utilised Tekla Structures from Trimble to construct the new southern entrance to Leeds’ train station.

The company said the ability to visualise the complex project in a 3D model format helped it to attain high quality standards, reduce lead times and even minimise hours spent on site.

Leeds’ new train station entrance comprises bridge decks over the River Aire, supporting lifts, escalators and stairs that provide a connection to the existing station’s western footbridge. Enclosed within a glass and gold effect roofing system, the whole of the new entrance has created an iconic landmark for the city.

William Hare Engineering Manager Paul Lovatt said: “We were contracted by Carillion for the engineering, fabrication and erection of the entrance, which is a complicated structure.

“With this in mind we decided to utilise Tekla Structures as it created accurate, reliable and detailed 3D models, which captured all of the project information, helped us identify construction clashes and overcome any potential problems on site – to ensure the project was completed on time.”

“This unique project was complex because of the challenging geometry and the fact that we had to join the new steel framework to the existing structure – all while being aware of how close we were working to the current in-use station buildings. As such, close coordination with the architect and the engineer was essential to achieve the correct set-out of the steel.”