Gatic Pave Access Covers from Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS), have been installed across the busy pedestrian plaza and exterior forecourt areas at Paddington’s new Elizabeth Line underground station.

Located in Central London, Paddington Station is one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs, serving millions of commuters, regional travellers and international visitors every year. To improve routes and open new connections around Paddington, the Elizabeth Line underground station was delivered by architects Weston Williamson + Partners; a vast project no less than a decade in the making.

Specification Requirements

The original Grade I listed Paddington Station building, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Digby Wyatt, is iconic in both architectural and engineering terms, so the modern Elizabeth Line project not only had to meet strict modern requirements for public safety and structural integrity, but also needed to sit sympathetically alongside its historic counterpart. In an area experiencing such huge volumes of visitors and constant foot-traffic, creating an attractive, yet unobstructed, pedestrian environment was crucial.

This high-traffic public space is also subject to constant luggage trolley movement, routine maintenance activity and occasional heavy-duty vehicles, including delivery trucks, maintenance plant and emergency service vehicles. An access solution was required which could combine the necessary aesthetics with safe, efficient access to underground services, and the ability to accommodate rigorous daily demands without warping, rocking or failing over time.

The Gatic Solution

To meet both the technical and aesthetic requirements of the project, Gatic Pave Access Covers from AWMS were specified across Paddington’s external forecourt and internal concourse areas.

Designed to integrate seamlessly into paved and landscaped environments, Gatic Pave features a paviour-recessed infill layout, allowing surrounding block paving or hard landscaping materials such as stone or concrete to be laid directly within the cover. This helps maintain the visual continuity of the surrounding surface, and keeps utility access points discreet.

Technical performance with all the aesthetics

The Gatic Pave system combines visual integration with heavy-duty structural performance, offering a sleek, discreet finish alongside a D400 loading capacity.

For longevity, the steelwork is hot-dip galvanised to BS EN ISO standards, providing an extra layer of protection against corrosion with the added benefit of a more attractive finish to visible edges.

Gatic Pave covers are manufactured with precision-machined horizontal and vertical seating faces for a tight, non-rocking fit. Gatic’s legendary precision engineering creates a dependable gas-, air- and watertight seal, helping to protect underground utilities from surface water and contaminants, whilst also maintaining a stable walking surface for the high volumes of pedestrians passing through Paddington Station. Ductile iron components are manufactured to BS EN 1563 and the covers are certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Gatic Pave covers are available in a wide range of sizes and configurations, including single units, duct runs, and multispan arrangements. This flexibility allows access to everything from small chambers to large service corridors and utility trenches in challenging environments such as highways, public realm developments, and commercial or industrial sites.

The seamless integration of old and new at Paddington’s Elizabeth Line has earned the project numerous accolades over recent years, including the RIBA National Award for architectural excellence.

Gatic has been making its own contribution to national infrastructure for over a century, and now sits under the AWMS umbrella, as one of five brands well known for innovation, quality and longevity. The four accompanying brands are: Alumasc Rainwater Gutters & Downpipes; Skyline Architectural Aluminium; Harmer Building Drainage; and Wade Building Drainage.

For more information, or to download the Gatic Access Cover brochure, visit https://www.alumascwms.co.uk or call the Gatic team on 01787 475151