Canada Line Skytrain Stations

Fast + Epp collaborated with three architectural firms to design two at-grade skytrain stations and four elevated stations (categorized as the “Richmond family of stations”), to link the international airport with the downtown core in anticipation of Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Games.

The two at-grade Vancouver Airport stations largely followed the design vernacular established for the airport’s terminus station. Templeton Station was given a dynamic roof form of alternating curved roofs, constructed with a combination of finely-detailed sweeping glulam purlins over simple steel framing. Sea Island Centre, meanwhile, respected this curvilinear form but expanded on it with a precast concrete bridge deck that spanned the adjacent roadways.

For the Richmond family of stations – stopping at Aberdeen, Lansdowne, Richmond Brighouse and Marine Drive – we developed signature custom modular timber-steel panels, comprised of nail-laminated 2×4 members (either flat or gently curving), fitted into a frame of steel channel sections. These hybrid panels were factory prefabricated, shipped to site and dropped into place using a crane.

Prefabrication allowed for full integration of electrical and communication systems, housed discreetly within the panels. Remarkably, the project achieved a rare service commencement – 110 days ahead of schedule – thanks in part to this approach.