Capstan Station, located at the intersection of Capstan Way and No. 3 Road in Richmond, between the existing Bridgeport and Aberdeen stations along the Canada Line, is a critical addition to Metro Vancouver’s TransLink transit system. This $52M project, designed by RJC Engineers as part of a multidisciplinary team, supports the growth of the Capstan area in Richmond and aligns with the City of Richmond’s vision for a sustainable transit-oriented neighbourhood.

First-of-its-kind in BC, the Capstan Station project introduced a new station on the existing Canada Line guideway. Its design and construction were completed in tandem with active construction of several major housing developments adjacent.

Key challenges for this project included being the first infill station on the Canada Line considering the existing guideway limitations in accommodate the additional weight and complexity of the station. This challenge was compounded by the region’s poor liquefiable soil conditions and high seismic demands, which required the team to develop innovative solutions to ensure the station’s resilience and stability. At the platform level the station had to meet TransLink’s tight tolerances for platform edges, ensuring both service and post-earthquake functionality. Modular and pre-assembly techniques were employed to minimize construction time and avoid disruption to SkyTrain operations.

The primary structural system utilizes custom-fabricated, mega-steel frame sections to limit the weight of the station while featuring an exposed modular mass timber Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) roof panel system at the platform and concourse levels that fully conceals the roof’s structural steel framing. RJC’s structural team worked closely with its in-house glazing specialist to implement a full-height concourse glazing system suspended from the platform level, allowing for an exceptionally slender mullion profile while respecting stringent seismic drift requirements.

Capstan Station presented several unique engineering challenges, notably as the first infill station on the Canada Line whose original design excluded structural provisions for such an addition. Accommodating the weight of the new station on existing infrastructure required extensive redesign of the foundations and structural elements, a challenge compounded by liquefiable soil conditions and high seismic demands on the structure.

A critical design solution was the development of a novel adjustable sliding platform edge specifically designed to address both seismic drift and static soil settlement. The solution was engineered to allow controlled movement, preventing direct contact with the existing elevated guideway during seismic events while accommodating soil settlement. This innovation ensures that the new station will function safely under seismic conditions and maintains the tight tolerances required by TransLink.

Additionally, the sliding platform edge system was designed to meet TransLink’s strict criteria for platform gaps, both during normal operations and post-earthquake. Modular construction methods combined with pre-assembly of key components reduced construction time and minimized disruption to SkyTrain’s operation.

By leveraging these innovative engineering solutions, the team ensured Capstan Station’s seamless integration with existing infrastructure while addressing poor soil conditions, seismic drift, and the lack of initial structural provisions.

Capstan Station, the first infill station for the Canada Line without structural provisions in the original design, overcame significant challenges related to liquefiable soil conditions and high seismic demands. The innovative adjustable sliding platform edge successfully addresses both seismic drift and soil settlement.

Completed on time and within budget, the project provides essential transit access to Richmond’s Capstan Village.