Cambridge Station posed a complex engineering challenge: the requirement for a rooftop gantry system that could not be mechanically fixed to the existing canopy structure.

The gantry needed to span 13 metres in length and include safe access features such as stairs, handrails, and safety gates, all while adhering to strict weight restrictions.

Elemy began the project with a full 3D laser scan of the existing roof, allowing for precise modelling and integration. With the data in hand, the design team produced a detailed fabrication plan using GRP throughout the structure.

GRP’s non-conductive, RF-transparent, and corrosion-resistant properties made it the ideal material, particularly important in the sensitive environment of a functioning railway station with electrical systems below.

To counter the restriction on fixings, Elemy utilised bespoke ‘big feet’ load-spreading base units that would keep the structure stable without compromising the canopy below. This solution showcased Elemy’s ability to innovate under constraints and engineer practical, safety-compliant structures in space-limited environments.