All Aboard With Pilkington Planar™ And Salford Central Railway Station

More than 600m2 of Pilkington Planar™ is featured in the redevelopment of this important station. The new glazing complements the existing structure, which includes sky lights, external walls and vertical glazing for a new glass structure at the station’s main entrance, making the station concourse more accessible for commuters.

Architects Austin Smith-Lord LLP wanted to create a light, open, safe and secure space that was safely accessible from the busy main road on which it is situated. The large, unobstructed expanses of glass and seamless joints between adjacent panels of Pilkington Planar™ allow for minimal structural interference and maximum clarity. This design flexibility transformed the old dark station into a modern, light, relaxing space.

David Williams, Managing Director, architects, Austin Smith-Lord LLP, said: “Our concept for the project was to enlighten and embolden the building, creating a bright and spacious new entrance hall whilst maintaining the classic design of the original Victorian brickwork. By enhancing the passenger facilities with a light, bright modern concourse we were able to respect the Grade 2 Star listed bridges that are above the station.

“The transparency of the structure is key in minimising the visual impact of the façade while contributing to the perception of safety for the travelling public by removing dead spaces behind columns or structure. Because Pilkington Planar™ is frameless and incorporates toughened glass, it provided both the safety and clarity that we required.

"With support from the Pilkington team, we were able to achieve a quick and secure installation, because Pilkington Planar™ does not need the lengthy installation time of conventional framing systems - it is attached straight to the existing structure. This proved crucial for the development as the site was on a busy main road, so work needed to be completed quickly to limit its impact on the surrounding area and of course commuters.”

Neil Musgrove, Partner, architects, Austin Smith-Lord LLP, also said: “Good public transport plays a crucial part in helping an area to grow, providing connections with the wider world. This idea fed our concept, which was to create inviting and welcoming surroundings to encourage even more people to use the station.”

Pilkington Planar™ is the world’s leading frameless structural glazing system, providing a flush glass surface allowing architects the freedom to create the stunning glass buildings and canopies that are such a feature of modern city landscapes.

For more information about Pilkington Planar™ visit www.pilkington.co.uk/planar