The International Stress Management Association conducted a study which conveyed that for Londoners, the journey to work is the most stressful daily activity, exceeding the stress of being at work. What I believe makes a project great is it’s potential to have a significant impact on individuals as well the wider community, to not only support the economic and environmental growth of a city but to also improve the daily lives of residents. The new 60 mile Elizabeth line set up by Crossrail is estimated to serve 200 million people each year.
In addition to this social impact, the project’s scale and collaboration, influence on London as a world city and its sustainable, integrated design make it my favourite project from the industry.
The idea for an infrastructure as large as this east-west rail service across London was first introduced in the 1990s, but was only approved by the government in 2007 through perseverance and many failed attempts. This developed to become a very connected project.
Distinguished companies from design framework to project delivery are working together to complete their own sections of the railway, making it a collaborative project like no other.
London plays a vital role as the financial centre of Europe and the UK and hence productivity is a crucial aspect of the city. Productivity within central London is almost double the productivity of the rest of the UK so an investment in the transport network reinforces London as a place to invest. This new line is evaluated to provide a ?42 billion benefit to the UK economy, creating additional residential and commercial value along the route.
Sustainability is a core principle that is taken into consideration during the design process of this project. Minimising waste, reducing energy consumption and ensuring cost efficiency are measures Crossrail have exercised to tackle the environmental concerns of today. For example, seats within the stations are manufactured out of Kebony sustainable yellow pine, a modified softwood, dismissing the need for hardwoods. Moreover, Crossrail’s approach to an integrated design accommodated the surrounding areas to be developed simultaneously, aiding the new stations to merge into their neighbourhood and promote further regeneration within the city.
Most importantly, this project will have a crucial impact on London and neighbouring citizens.1.5 million additional people will have access to central London within 45 minutes. This will allow more individuals to work in central London without having to live in London. In addition to this, the delivery of more than 57,000 new homes will aid families and individuals to have more affordable options to purchase a first home. Art also has an essential role within this infrastructure, as the Crossrail Art Foundation are enabling artists to combine their work into the new stations. These artwork represent the community around each station embracing the culture and lives of the residents.
The Crossrail project may not be the tallest or most aesthetically unique structure but by far a project that has an enormous impact socially, economically and environmentally.