The Southern Cross Station was formerly known as the Spencer Street station, which required a major redevelopment to effectively manage the current and anticipated increase in passenger and rail services. Through one of the largest public-private partnerships in Australia to date, the project created a new, world-class transport interchange facility for both rail and bus. It transformed the surrounding precinct and resulted in a new civic landmark for Melbourne.
As well as the new interchange facility, the redevelopment included a new entrance, a commercial office tower, residential towers, a pedestrian bridge at the western part of the site, concourses on Collins Street and Bourke Street, a retail plaza, an 800-bay car park and a separate shopping complex, between Bourke and La Trobe Streets.
Multidisciplinary services
We provided a range of services to the project including Built Ecology and Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD), which brought the architect’s vision to life.
The station’s wave form roof is iconic and an Australian first. We delivered innovative low energy engineering solutions to support its design, allowing for diesel fumes, exhaust gases and hot air to be dispersed, ventilating the space and providing for maximum daylight, all without the use of electric fans.
Observing broader environmental impacts, we looked for further ways to improve the station’s sustainability. We developed an environmental management framework and materials advice that led to the use of Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene film for the first time in a building in Australia.
Key achievements
This station redevelopment has changed the face of the city’s western edge. As well as delivering the operational needs of a busy city station, the project has connected Melbourne’s CBD with the Docklands precinct; linking the old and new parts of the city with inspiring architectural design.
Iconic wave-form roof design
A key design feature of the station is the iconic, large span wave-form roof – an Australian first. The undulating structure was developed to assist with the extraction of diesel fumes and other air contaminants, by way of a louvred natural ventilation system. Whilst the north-west and south-west winds are essential to the operation of the ventilation system, the roof also serves as a means of sheltering passengers from the sun, wind and rain. Passenger amenities within the station include retail tenancies, a food court, waiting areas, baggage-handling and information systems; a two-story office ‘pod’ beneath the roof provides accommodation for station administrative staff.
WSP provided innovative low energy engineering solutions to support the roof's design, allowing it to disperse diesel fumes, exhaust gases, hot air, ventilate the space and to allow maximum daylight, all without the use of electric fans.
Broader environmental impacts were also considered, such as developing an environmental management framework and materials advice which directly led to the use of ETFE film for the first time in a building application in Australia.
Multi-Award winning project
The project was awarded the 2007 RIBA International Award and Lubetkin Prize for its high architectural standards, substantial contribution to the local environment and for being the most outstanding building outside the European Union. It was also featured on ABC’s television show, Catalyst.
Additional awards include:
- Victorian Architecture Medal
- William Wardell Award for Public Architecture
- Victorian Industry Capability Network Industry Achievement Award
