WINTER 2018 There is something new under the sun


How a bus shelter became an imaginatively designed, solar powered, passenger friendly transport hub.


The project in brief


As part of a major infrastructure development Bournemouth University created a new transport hub to connect the University to the wider area. A key part of the transport hub was the provision of effective weather protection for passengers. This shelter had to fit in with the wider themes of the development and deliver on the University? sustainability goals by utilising solar technology.


s Growth at Bournemouth University


The new Talbot Campus development at Bournemouth University is an important and prestigious project, not just for the University but for the local area which benefits from the success of the University and its students. The £3 million investment in new campus buildings and other infrastructure is a long-term commitment that will see the University widen its learning provision and all-round facilities. Part of the benefit for students, and the wider Bournemouth area, is the construction of a new transport hub that will provide joined up public transport connecting the University campus to Bournemouth itself.


This was made possible by an agreement with the local council, the Borough of Poole who agreed to the construction of a new entrance road to the campus as well as the new bus hub on the western edge of the site. The new road, which will see a ?fourth arm? added to the Boundary roundabout, will improve access to the university?


new bus hub. The project is part of a major development plan which will see a new, four-storey Poole Gateway Building at the entrance to the Talbot campus.


To successfully meet those requirements Able Canopies created a bespoke design based on its stylish Kensington system. The addition of solar panels, effective drainage plus seating and under canopy wind protection, were all elements that the adaptable Kensington could cope with.


The result was a standout look for a practical


transport hub that provides effective weather protection and longer term pay back via renewable energy generation.


The transport hub is a crucial aspect of the overall project as it provides the day to day infrastructure that will allow University life to run smoothly and for users of the campus to have access in ways that are convenient and reliable.


A key part of the new transport hub is the weather protection provided to passengers as they wait for buses. To ensure that this essential part of the development met the standards required of the project Able Canopies entered into early design discussions with Bournemouth University. This evolved and in April 2017 Mildren Construction awarded Able Canopies the works for the new bus hub.


The Brief s


The requirement for the project looked straightforward on paper. Then the discussions start, and the brief develops, and the options are presented, and the changes are made and eventually what started as a challenging but achievable project now has a unique design that includes a centre to end incline, bespoke end details, a solar panel roof and underside framing and seating.


The canopies had to meet the aesthetic requirement of a new learning space, and of course, achieve the practical needs of weather protection and shelter.


Our Proposal


Throughout the development and design process we thought that our Kensington Dual pitch would be the ideal product for this installation. The more the design developed and requirements were added, such as the solar roof panels, the more convinced we were that it was perfect for the client?


s needs. The drawing shows one of the first design stages of the project.


The Kensington is a robust, steel frame system that will stand up to all that the weather has to throw at it. Its architectural good looks mean that it makes a strong aesthetic statement,


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