[COM] Torrens Footbridge | $40m

[Will]

From news.com:

Oval footbridge glass cladding adds class


This story was published: 9 hours ago February 11, 2014 11:31AM





Niko Tsoukalas in front of the footbridge. Pic Keryn Stevens. Source: News Limited




ELEGANT glass cladding wrapped around the new River Torrens footbridge is gradually being revealed as work on the project nears an end.

Lead design company Aurecon says it is on target to have the $40 million bridge finished in time for football games starting at Adelaide Oval in March.

Technical director Niko Tsoukalas said workers were on the “home stretch” with paving, decking and final work on the water features now happening.

Mr Tsoukalas said the work was a tribute to South Australian talent with the technical expertise behind the 2000msq curved glass cladding an Australian first.

“It wraps itself around the whole perimeter of the form of the bridge itself to give it that elegant, slender design characteristic, it’s a classy finish,” he said.

“It’s like SAMHRI from an engineering glass perspective, using expertise to create something different for the city.

“It’s that recognition that South Australia has this kind of talent here and we don’t have to look overseas.”

The project to build the 255 metre long and eight metre wide bridge was led by engineering firm Aurecon working with designers Taylor Cullity Lethlean and architects Tonkin Zulaihka Greer.

Mr Tsoukalas said more than 40 people from the Aurecon and sub-consultant design team had worked on the project, since construction started in March last year.

The bridge was temporarily opened for the Ashes cricket held at the Adelaide Oval in December.

“It was a very good example of how we found people just instinctively knew where to go (from North Tce to the Adelaide Oval),” Mr Tsoukalas said.

Mr Tsoukalas said the work had involved building the bridge that linked the Adelaide Oval’s redeveloped southern gates to the southern landing point west of the Dunstan Playhouse near the Adelaide Railway Station concourse.

It also involved redeveloping the Adelaide festival bistro, grand stairs and two water features.

He said despite the bridge being opened during The Ashes, people wouldn’t get a real feel for the design until it was completed, when the glass was revealed, and it was used in all its potential “modes”.

These included possibilities for it to be used as a theatre stage or by having “plug and play” mini events set up along its length

[UrbanSG]

So from reading that article, does that mean the underside cladding is glass as well?

Maybe there is still film on the cladding shown in the previous photos that will be removed closer to completion? If it is glass then it will be even more impressive.

[Matt]

All the cladding is glass, particularly the underside to reflect the water.

Has anyone seen it in person?

[Nort]

All the cladding is glass, particularly the underside to reflect the water.

Has anyone seen it in person?

It looks amazing in person. I was quite put off by the photos I'd seen because the cladding looked like it had massive gaps between panels, but in reality it's sexy as all hell.

[Honey of a City]

All the cladding is glass, particularly the underside to reflect the water.

Has anyone seen it in person?

It looks amazing in person. I was quite put off by the photos I'd seen because the cladding looked like it had massive gaps between panels, but in reality it's sexy as all hell.

Sure is! The glass cladding makes the curve even more elegant, and gives the impression the whole structure's light and floating up above the river. As more and more of the scaffolding comes down that will be even more apparent. This is a masterpiece for its time and location.

[Matt]

Home next month, will be making a beeline there... looking forward to seeing it lit up.

[Matt]

Via @891adelaide

Finish is stunning.

[skyliner]

The glass seems to 'lift' it away from the water so it is not appearing a squeeze - visibility and elegance excellent.
Lets hope that what they do around the festival plaza matches it. Helping to make Ad. a real' honey of a city' to quote someone else.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Waewick]

now lets focus on cleaning up that river.

[Matt]

The extended Festival Centre bistro reopens next Tuesday.

!

[Honey of a City]

Amazing effect late this afternoon. The glass cladding under the bridge was reflecting the shimmer on the water. The whole bridge was invisible, except for the rail. The effect will be changing constantly with the time and the season. Can't wait to see the lighting.

[pushbutton]

Pity it took quarter of a century to finally decide to build it, but it sounds like it's a great design. I haven't seen it since the scaffolding started coming down, so will make a point of taking a look (and probably walking across it too) next time I'm in the city.

[Faulkick]

Adelaide is a beautiful city.



From about two hours ago. Probably would've been a better shot this afternoon but oh well!

And this one is from last Sunday morning.

[Honey of a City]

The bridge was open tonight for a private function at the oval, so that the guests could stroll over Lola's on the south bank. Spoke to a workman who says it should be open to the public in a couple of weeks, though the cladding and surrounds will still be unfinished. So looking like it'll be open for the Stones concert.

[Hooligan]

The bridge was open tonight for a private function at the oval, so that the guests could stroll over Lola's on the south bank. Spoke to a workman who says it should be open to the public in a couple of weeks, though the cladding and surrounds will still be unfinished. So looking like it'll be open for the Stones concert.

Really? They couldn't open it for many of the big cricket games since the ashes but they can open it for a private function?

Smells fishy.