Gouda train station canopy

This impressive canopy, measuring 50 meters in length and 15 meters in width, is a unique hybrid combination between steel and glass. It covers the trains station square on the north side of the station. In the entrance passage, created by a collaboration between Sander Architecten and IAA Architecten, the architects designed a canopy with cantilevering parts up to 14 meters, spanning almost fully towards the side of the nearby train platforms. By setting the columns not in a straight line behind each other, the canopy gets a light and playful character. The steel structure consists of twelve steel columns and six gigantic steel girders. The beams have a V-shaped cross-section and are constructed from steel sheets with a thickness of 40 millimeters. The overall stability of the structure is provided by the columns that are clamped into the foundation. The overall coherence in the structure is realized by connecting the steel beams with the glass roof elements. The glass is used to act as a rigid floor diaphragm over the full roof surface. This results into a hybrid steel-glass structure that is reinforcing the beams by distributing wind loads to all beams. A challenging part of this structure was the assembly of the overall structure. Since the steel beams is not able to carry their self weight without too large deformations in lateral direction, temporary braces were added (figure 12). Specific assembly phases were precalculated to introduce as little stress as possible in the glass during installation. With help of the hybrid combination between steel and glass, this canopy has been realized in accordance with the architectural vision and within the budget. The steel contractor Buiting Machinebouw en Staalconstructie provided for this project 300 tons of steel, glass supplier Alverre Techniglas provided the necessary 770 m2 of glass. ABT provide the engineering for both the hybrid glass and steel structure.