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Sarens helps commuters connect at Union Station

After more than four years of construction, the renovation of Toronto’s Union Station is complete.

The result is a more modern aesthetically pleasing and innovative station.

The improvement work at the Union Station Bus Station — one of the busiest in the world — and the construction of Toronto’s innovative CIBC SQUARE has been made possible thanks to years of effort and major partnerships with Sarens.

The main work was focused on creating more modern infrastructure, increasing capacity, and building CIBC SQUARE’s two towers, which resulted in a unique creation.

The bridge connecting the two towers is a portrait of modern architecture, mixing the classic structure of a hanging bridge with the view of a more than 4,000 square-metre park.

To construct the bridge, Sarens had to work by adapting to passenger traffic. So, they started working on a night schedule to interfere as little as possible and avoid negatively affecting the lives of pedestrians who walk along Bay Street, where the station is located.

For the project, Sarens had to install and lift large iron beams weighing a total of 9,434 kg, which support and enable the development of the one-acre flying garden that connects the north and south towers of the station. Thanks to this method, it has been possible to carry out the project so effectively in just four months.

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“The newly renovated Union Station will have an enormously positive impact on the community,” says Lee Rowe, Sarens regional director NAM, after expressing his gratitude for being able to take part in a project of this relevance for the Canadian city.

The completion of architectural ensemble is a real milestone for Toronto, as it is unique construction, representing the first skyway bridge in Toronto and one of the first in Canada.

Due to the social and economic importance of the station, transport was never suspended, the works had to be carried out with an extra degree of complexity, which is where companies such as Sarens come in helpful with an extensive experience in similar situations, that allows the company to adapt to the needs of each project.

About Sarens

Based in Belgium, Sarens provides crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. The company has one of the world’s largest inventories of cranes, transporters and specialty rigging equipment and operates in more than 100 countries.