Barnsley Interchange

“…a spectacular and innovative structure. Already it is being recognised as a world class building and is being considered for national and international architectural awards. I hope that it will encourage even more people to use public transport.”

Roy Wicks, Director General of SYPTE

1
Client

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive / Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Project

Barnsley Interchange

Value

£24m / €27.5m

Rate valid as of 16.09.11

Barnsley Interchange Barnsley Interchange Barnsley Interchange Barnsley Interchange Barnsley Interchange

Requirement:

The Interchange is a flagship development in the Remaking Barnsley Strategic Development Framework - the town's 30 year masterplan - and needed to improve connection between public transport facilities and create an engaging passenger environment, complete with cafés and retail areas.

Our solution

  • The high quality, contemporary, fully enclosed passenger environment comprises a bus concourse, retail facilities, offices and bridge link over to the existing rail station.
  • Bright and inviting, the design marks a real departure from the colourless, characterless architecture it replaces.
  • The new bridge, a covered extension to the interchange building itself, gives a seamless transition between rail and road transport.
  • Sustainability has been maximised through the use of sustainable source and recyclable materials, and design features that use natural daylight and ventilation.
  • Clearly identifiable pedestrian routes link into the existing urban fabric and future developments included in the Masterplan.
  • The bus concourse is a ‘glazed street' which uses EFTE (the material used in the Eden Projects bubbly biospheres). It's clear, allowing light to flood in, recyclable, tough, lightweight and designed to melt safely in the event of a fire.
  • The EFTE roof is supported by a series of warm, heavy timber columns, sustainably grown. The solid areas of the roofing use sheet copper, easy to shape to the complex layout of the building and attractive when seen from above in part of the new town centre development.
  • Brand new retail units are accessible from the Interchange and street level - colour and design produces a lively street frontage and breaks up the frontage of the scheme to avoid the previously monolithic appearance of the interchange.