Canberra Light Rail Stage 1 Gungahlin to Civic project. The project client is the ACT Government. The total project value is $707 million in capital costs. The Canberra Metro consortium, formed by Pacific Partnerships, John Holland, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, CPB Contractors, Deutsche Bahn International, CAF and the Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., will design, construct, maintain and operate the project for 20 years.

Light Rail Stage 1 is the first stage in the overall light rail masterplan which will deliver faster, more convenient and more sustainable transport options for Canberra over the next 20 years. Stage 1 includes the design and construction of a 12 km light rail route from the Gungahlin to the Civic with 13 stops, depot, road, signalling and preparatory works and the ongoing operation and maintenance of the light rail system.

Studio Colin Polwarth was approached by John Holland to assist in the urban design management of the project during the latter stages of the design and construction project. Studio Colin Polwarth worked closely with Project Co consortium of John Holland and CPB Contractors for the design, delivery and operations and maintenance of the Light Rail, with ACT Government and the approval authority of the National Capital Authority to finalise the urban design. Engineering by AECOM and SMEC with architecture by Architectus and landscape design by DSB Landscape Architects was brought to completion over a 10-month period while construction continued.

Studio Colin Polwarth assisted with the design management of the final stages of typical stops and the Design Advisory Review process, and the integration of the largest stop at Civic into the commercial heart of Canberra. Civic has sensitive heritage and cultural landscape qualities. Colin managed all aspects of the urban design including the wayfinding and urban design approval process. He worked closely with Architectus, UAP and artist Hannah Quinlivan and the project team to realise the concept design for the continuous artwork along the full length of Stage 1.

All visualisations supplied by Architectus (AI3D) with acknowledgement to Project Co. for their use and approval by ACT Government.