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Perth's new multimillion dollar Butler train station and bus terminal is right on track to set a new standard of design for railway stations in Western Australia.
This state-of-the-art facility has been a collaborative project, commissioned by Perth's Public Transport Authority (PTA), and brought to fruition by Coniglio Ainsworth Architects, with Arup providing structural engineering services.
Part of the 7.5km extension of Perth's existing northern Joondalup line, the new station has taken three and a half years to plan and build, with the PTA’s stringent safety, access, functional and layout requirements integral to the design.
The collaborative approach has resulted in a highly successful, aesthetically pleasing station which is hallmarked by a striking roof form.
Having successfully tendered for the project in 2010, Butler station adds to Arup's engineering portfolio of West Australian train stations, including Subiaco, Joondalup, Greenwood, and Stirling, which the Perth office has worked on in past years.
Built below ground level with the open concourse at the same level as the existing topography, the station connects the local communities on either side of the station. The new station has been constructed as an integral part of Butler's commercial and residential development and is integrated with the adjacent six-bay bus terminal.
The unique roof structure is its most striking element, and as part of the design development Arup investigated and researched the use of long span roof cladding systems in order to minimise vertical structure and roof support, resulting in a reduction in steel quantities while enhancing the overall appearance of the facility. The upper roof of the station covers approximately 2,250m2 which equates to almost two Olympic sized swimming pools.
© John Gollings
In addition to making for a more aesthetically pleasing design, detailed design coordination was undertaken to conceal services within the structure, while not compromising future maintenance. This approach also contributed towards the clean lines of the overall aesthetic.
With more than 2,000 passengers expected to board at Butler Station every day, the project will provide a valuable transport service to the rapidly-growing northern communities, and will also ease congestion on the road network.
The Butler Station received a special commendation for ‘Public Architecture’ at the 2015 Western Australian Architecture Awards.
