The Cross River Rail project will catalyse underutilised city fringe suburbs into mixed-use hubs with commercial, residential, retail and new knowledge developments with world-class public transport.

In 2017, Archipelago worked as lead urban designers on the Cross River Rail Project as part of an ARUP led multi-disciplinary project team; comprising planning, architecture, landscape/public realm, engineering, and property. The team focused on the station precincts and catchments, building on a previously established corridor framework and urban design vision.

Archipelago had the lead role in developing the urban design framework for the station precincts, and focused on unlocking positive city making potentials for this transformative infrastructure project. Working in a highly collaborative partnership with ARUP, Archipelago developed the overarching urban design frameworks designed to form the basis for ongoing station precinct planning and design. Work included acting as a design collaborator and facilitator in design workshops that were focused on the integration and coordination of the multi-disciplinary initiatives.

Work on the project also included building 3D base models of the station surrounds, providing inputs into master plans and reports, and creating visualisations of all station entry plazas. In addition, broad aerial perspectives and plans were produced, aimed at illustrating compelling visions of desirable urban outcomes. These urban design inputs were blended into there ports produced and submitted by ARUP in the latter half of 2017.

Ongoing work is now being completed to deliver innovative and successful precinct plans for three stations along the rail corridor.