Tata Steel’s lightweight Celsius® 355 Circular Hollow Section was a vital component in the design of Slough Bus Station’s sinuous, long-span canopies.

The architectural vision for the bus station was to create a piece of functional sculpture that would be a landmark for the town. The station needed to complement neighbouring listed buildings and act as a catalyst for further development in the heart of Slough.

The new development was to provide a safe, comfortable and clutter-free environment for passengers. Weather protection was required for passengers and for pedestrians using the walkway.

Buildability of the design – in the heart of a busy, public area subject to re-development - was another important consideration. The bus station structures needed to be built safely, cost-effectively and speedily in order to minimise disruption and meet schedule constraints.

The bus station design was inspired by the work on light wavelengths undertaken by one-time Slough resident and Astronomer Royal, Sir William Herschel. The differing, wave-shaped forms of the station canopies were conceived to respond to the differing levels of weather protection required by passengers and buses.

The solution entailed a pair of steel trusses to span the 50 metres from the accommodation block at one end of the station to a single point of support at the other. This support is provided by a random array of circular hollow section columns.

The long-span solution was rationalised into a pair of separate steel trusses comprising Celsius® 355 Circular Hollow Section in diameters of 193.7mm and 457mm. These were framed out with secondary and tertiary steel members to create the desired wave form.

Claire Smith, structural engineer at Buro Happold said: “Circular hollow section was used to provide the backbone of the sleek and organic canopies. It allowed us to achieve the aesthetic vision. It was also a practical solution because of its light weight and its suitability for off-site fabrication and accurate on-site installation.”