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    1. Rail
    2. Infrastructure

    IBI Group-designed Confederation Line LRT downtown tunnel opens to public

    Oct. 9, 2019
    The global design and technology firm designs underground segment of the Ottawa infrastructure project.
    Related To: IBI Group
    city of Ottawa/Confederation Line gallery
    Confederation Line 5d9e07f45f94a

    The IBI Group announced the completion of the station design for the downtown tunnel portion of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’s Confederation Line, a 13-station, 12.5-km (7.8 mile) light-rail transit line with a 2.5 km (1.6 mile) underground segment beneath the city center, which is now open to the public. 

    As part of the Rideau Transit Group consortium, IBI Group led the design of the three underground stations Lyon, Parliament and Rideau. This transit system represents the largest infrastructure project in Ottawa’s history and is set to transform how people travel throughout the nation’s capital, according to the company. 

    “One of the challenges of designing underground transit stations is establishing a design that doesn’t feel like it’s underground. We wanted to create a lot of transparency within the station, focusing on a neutral palette to help bring more light into the space,” said IBI Group Transit Architecture Director Charlie Hoang. “You also won’t see a lot of obstructions throughout our stations. When going down to platform level you will see a nice wide path to the concourse, then the stairwells, escalators and elevators. Our main goal is always to try to open that up if possible.” 

    The IBI design team selected a neutral material palette, consisting of white, cream and light grey tones accented with stainless steel and glass to help bring more light into the space. Functional layout techniques were integrated within the design which allow for the maximization of intuitive wayfinding, limiting the need for additional signage to guide users. Constructed with an entirely mined cavern, Rideau Station specifically has a central, double-height space, with Canada’s longest escalator at 35.3 meters (116 feet) long moving passengers into and out of the concourse, according to IBI. 

    IBI Group worked in collaboration with world-class artists and the O-Train Public Art Program to establish a unique identity for each station. At Lyon Station, Calgary-based artist Geoff McFetridge used the broad theme of how humans relate to one another to create multiple murals throughout the station, according to IBI Group. Vancouver-based artist and author Douglas Coupland produced a suspended sculpture at Parliament Station. At Rideau Station, Montreal-based artist Geneviève Cadieux utilized two large glass walls to support her work, which includes black and white imagery of rippling water, accompanied by metallic accents, between layers of glass.