Designing New Stations for Luton’s Direct Air-Rail Transit Line

Challenge

Our 3D Revit software allowed the design team to quickly understand the key issues in the design and produce a fully coordinated BIM (Building Information Modelling) model that combined the main architectural, structural and services elements of the project into the design of both stations. 

Parkway station is constructed on a confined town centre site, and the early 3D BIM modelling of the station and its major components assisted the contractor in understanding how the build would be phased and the site set up. However, the reference designs highlighted to the team that they had only been developed in 2D, so the design team had to overcome some major coordination challenges, such as the building layouts hadn’t been properly coordinated with the structural grid. 

Solution

We supported the contractor and LLAL (London Luton Airport Ltd) by producing fully interactive VR (virtual reality) models for both stations using our VR software. These models enabled the contractor to better understand the challenges around the buildability on site, to brief the building teams in advance of starting the build, and to use for site inductions. The VR models were also shown to LLAL to visualise how the spaces would feel, how wayfinding signage would be best designed, and how advertising and retail space could be fully utilised. 

We also assisted the contractor through the successful delivery of the blockwork package. This involved transposing the 2D service penetration information into the Revit model, highlighting and mitigating clashes, and delivering 3D design information to the on-site team carrying out the blockwork. This approach ensured that the programme was maintained, despite late client changes to the services strategy, which could have otherwise caused delays to the construction programme.