INTERVIEW PETER CHONG


SOLUTIONS JULY 2011


Peter Chong is senior technical director on WSP’s rail projects.


EDINBURGH Postcard from...


What are you working on at the moment?


WSP is the lead designer on the redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station – the first major rail project that WSP has won in Scotland. We’ve been undertaking the design work alongside our contractor client in a co-located office at Waverley for more than a year and the team has recently moved back into WSP’s offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We’re working with Balfour Beatty on a part of the project worth £50m, and the wider refurbishment has an investment value of £130m. We’re responsible for the refurbishment and strengthening of the station roof, remodelling of the concourse and renewal of the platforms. The entire 34,000m2 roof will be replaced with clear, strengthened glass to shed new light on the station concourse


and platforms. As lead designer we also coordinated all the other specialist design elements, which include new siphonic drainage, glazing, cladding, maintenance access systems, station lighting and ventilation. Waverley Station is of critical importance for Scotland’s historic, environmental and commercial well-being, and it is a real privilege to be involved in such a strategic scheme. Over the next three years, we’re going to witness the physical transformation of Waverley into a brighter and more welcoming station and I’m proud that WSP has contributed to its restoration.


That sounds like a lot of work …


At the peak of the project, we had 12 designers working on it. One of the biggest challenges is that


the roof structure is geometrically complex, comprising riveted pitched trusses, valley trusses and a variety of special structural forms as they envelop the irregular roof footprint. A 3D model of the roof was produced so that we could understand how all the different roof design components would be integrated into a single design, and establish a build sequence, managing conflicts between components. Parts of the 3D model were also used on the design drawings. These isometric views of the roof should facilitate an efficient construction process. It’s one thing to design something, it's another to actually build it. The 3D model certainly helps.


What other challenges were there on the project?


Waverley Station is a Historic Scotland category A listed building, so we obviously had very tight constraints from a planning point of view, and maintaining the look of the station was critical. Using modern materials in a Victorian station presents its challenges. On an occasion where there were no modern equivalents, damaged ornamental cast iron plates had to be replaced like-for-like.


What other rail projects are you working on?


I get involved in most rail projects to varying degrees, but specifically in Scotland, we’ve successfully delivered platform extensions at seven different stations to


accommodate new rolling stock for our ultimate client, Network Rail. We were lead designers on that project, responsible for all the track work, signalling, overhead line electrification work and civil engineering. We’re lead designer of Gourock Station, which we are currently renewing with new canopies, new sea defences, platform works and concourse remodelling. WSP’s ambition is to continue to grow the rail business in the UK and abroad and successfully delivering Waverley highlights our ability to tackle complex multi-disciplinary projects, which should enhance our ability to win more work both in Scotland and elsewhere.


What’s a typical day like for you?


There is no typical day. There are planned days and emergent days – emergent days are definitely the norm! I project manage and provide the technical lead and direction on several schemes and on others I support with technical input and advice. Interspersed with that, I get involved in bids and business development, and perform client-care functions. I’ve always encouraged my colleagues and clients alike to feel free to contact me for advice or to discuss ideas or engineering issues. I pride myself in being available – which is probably why emergent days tend to be the norm.


peter.chong@wspgroup.com

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