Bus station, Tilburg | New bus station bets on passenger comfort

Using ETFE film was a major challenge for all construction partners

At the end of April, Tilburg's new bus station was inaugurated. Just like the renovation of the train station and the new bicycle parking facilities in the railroad area, the design was the work of architecture firm cepezed. BAM Infra was commissioned to realize this 160-meter-long triangular track, including a minimalist canopy structure with innovative ETFE film. Passenger comfort was the main focus, although attention was also paid to energy efficiency and maintenance.

The municipality of Tilburg felt that the old bus station no longer met current requirements in terms of security and privacy. Moreover, it wanted to give the area around the train station a new quality impulse. Architectenbureau cepezed was commissioned to draw the designs for the renovation of the train station, the construction of new bicycle storage facilities and the realization of a new bus station with accompanying driver's building. BAM Infra was selected to co-support and realize the project. "First and foremost, we supported the client and designer in making decisions and making the right choices," says Mathé Lodewijk, project manager at BAM Infra. "Furthermore, we were responsible for the execution design of the bus station and the realization of the entire project, which includes the infrastructure of the Spoorlaan."

Bus passengers at Tilburg station have been standing and sitting a lot more comfortably since March this year.

EFTE film poses challenge

The bus station consists of a series of extremely slender pairs of columns topped by an equally minimalist canopy structure, which covers the entire platforms and part of the buses, allowing passengers to board and alight in dry and sheltered conditions. The structure forms a triangular circuit over 160 meters long with an open space in the center. The canopy circumference extends from 14 to 30 meters in width and has two staggered sections that divide the overall structure into three segments. At the heart of each segment is a green space with seating edge for travelers. At the wide head is a pavilion with the staff area for bus drivers, a service point and a commercial area. This driver building is made up of large elements in tempered glass, which were specially produced for this project in the correct dimensions and color. "The structure consists of a steel framework covered with an innovative translucent ETFE film. Behind the foil, the lighting is integrated into the steel structure. The foil filters sunlight during the day and when it gets dark, it transforms into a spatial lighting element," explains the project manager. "Because the use of EFTE foil was fairly new, making the proper calculations and drawings took a long time. Certain details from the design turned out not to be feasible or poorly feasible in practice. As a result, we had to make a number of changes, which caused the necessary delay."

The steel framework is covered with a special ETFE film and equipped with lighting. The foil filters sunlight during the day and when it gets dark, it transforms into a spatial lighting element.

Energy efficient and low maintenance

The construction partners also took energy consumption and maintenance into account. Every fourteen meters, motion detectors are integrated into the steel canopy edge, which react to the presence of buses and travelers. Thus, adequate lighting can be provided at any time. "On top of the canopy there are also 250 m² of solar panels, which provide enough energy for all the functionalities of the bus station, such as the lighting, the digital information boards, the staff room and the public transport service point," concludes Lodewijk. "The EFTE film of the canopy is self-cleaning and requires very little maintenance. For service of the solar panels and electrical facilities, the canopy perimeter is easily walkable via the pavilion and a walkable cable tray."