Chadstone Shopping Centre transport hub light for 1 million passengers every year
As part of a massive redevelopment in the heart of Chadstone, located south-east of Melbourne CBD, a new bus interchange and taxi rank offer the latest in smart bus technology, visual appeal and commuter comfort.

WE-EF's LED technology was the engineers' first choice for the lighting scheme due to its quality and performance as well as its ability to contribute to the project's sustainable design philosophy.

The construction of this new infrastructure is part of Chadstone's A$ 600 million redevelopment, which will also include a 10-level office tower, new retail and dining precincts, and two new carpark areas.

Simpson Kotzman engineers have provided the building services design from the centre's initial concept stages and throughout the construction development. The firm developed a lighting scheme for the transport hub, and with the help of WE-EF sales partner in Victoria, Buckford Illumination Group, was able to implement a solution that was both elegant and functional for Public Transport Victoria.

The completion of the project marked the end of the first stage of the centre's mega redevelopment, and it is expected to make Australia's biggest shopping mall more accessible to the community. At least 1 million passengers are expected to use the bus interchange every year, which will also provide shoppers with a central access point to the mall through a network of 14 bus lines that connect with the suburban train network to Melbourne's east and south.

The design of the interchange includes a multipurpose roof canopy that will capture rain to be reused via a rainwater tank for toilet flushing, gardens and landscaping irrigation. The canopy also provides a weather-protected zone with heating, CCTV and real-time electronic signage as well as sufficient seating benches for the commuters. The project's lighting was carefully integrated with the architectural streetscape in order to provide accent and orientation illumination where required.

"WE-EF FLD131 LED 24 W projectors with a medium beam distribution and linear lens are used to uplight the white canopies. The indirect uplighting provides adequate illumination for safety and pedestrian circulation, while creating an architectural focal point in the space," according to Buckford Illumination Group.

In addition, Buckford Illumination Group pointed out that the "catenary RFS540 LED luminaires were selected for illuminating the bus lanes and minimising any visual intrusion that could have been created with the use of light poles. The suspended luminaires blend beautifully with the architecture, creating sufficient light to comply with the requirements stated by Australian standards."

The project also features a series of 144W VFL540-SE mounted on 8.5-metre poles to illuminate the rooftop of the new car park building. The side-entry luminaire is also used in a triple configuration to light the intersection and merging point with the bus interchange via Dandenong Road.