Belfast Grand Central Station on track with Pendock

Stainless steel and aluminium column casings from Pendock’s Radius range have been installed at Belfast Grand Central Station to conceal interior structural steelwork within the 7,500 square metre transport hub.

Designed by architects, John McAslan & Partners with Arup for Northern Ireland’s main public transport services operator, Translink, Grand Central is an integrated rail and bus terminus with eight train platforms and 26 bus stands, serving an anticipated 20 million passenger journeys, annually.

Using a shallow pitch saw-tooth roof design and extensive glazed facades, the open plan main concourse is designed to provide easy access to trains and buses, with Pendock’s circular column casings providing an aesthetic and durable finish to the 45 structural supports.

Ranging in height from 3.4 up to 12.3 metres, the majority of the column casings are 900mm diameter, with a further four at 450mm and one of 650mm diameter, yet they use a ‘hybrid’ construction using stainless steel and aluminium. 

On every casing, the lower 2.1 metres, along with the 300mm high adjustable skirting collars are manufactured from 2mm thick satin finish stainless steel, while the upper sections are formed from 2mm aluminium and finished with a grey RAL9007 polyester powder coating to integrate with the interior design scheme.