Ordsall Chord
The Ordsall Chord introduced a new rail link connecting previously separate lines, enabling direct services between Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly stations for the first time.
The Brief
The Ordsall Chord introduced a new rail link connecting previously separate lines, enabling direct services between Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly stations for the first time. The scheme presented significant heritage considerations, incorporating a series of viaducts and bridges that navigate around Liverpool Road Station, the world's first passenger railway station, and a historic bridge by pioneering engineer George Stephenson.
The Challenge
A sensitive, context-driven scheme was required for the Grade I listed Stephenson's Bridge and surrounding public realm, one of the most historically significant railway sites, covering feature, heritage and functional lighting across architectural, structural and landscape elements, while delivering a safe and legible environment for both the public and rail operatives.
What we delivered
Developed through an iterative process of mock-ups and detailed 3D modelling to ensure the site's historic character was appropriately highlighted.
Stephenson's Bridge: as the Grade I listing did not permit mounting luminaires onto the structure, it is sensitively illuminated from both the Manchester and Salford riverbanks, preserving its heritage significance while keeping it a legible feature at night.
Water Street: the lost Doric columns of the original bridge are reinterpreted as steel discs cut to the column profile and set into the Yorkstone paving, with carefully aligned spotlights defining their presence after dark.
Prince's Bridge: a discreet LED system integrated within the handrails eliminates the need for columns and accentuates the bright aluminium deck; reconstructed abutment stonework and reinstated 1905 plaques are sensitively highlighted with in-ground wall-wash luminaires.
Giorgos joined the Ordsall Chord project at GRIP 3, contributing to the development of lighting design options to support client and stakeholder review within a highly sensitive heritage context. The scheme forms a critical piece of rail infrastructure, linking Manchester’s major stations for the first time and significantly improving network capacity and connectivity. He subsequently took on the role of Lead Lighting Designer from GRIP 4 onwards, developing a coordinated single-option design for client approval, before leading the progression into GRIP 5, where he oversaw the production of detailed design deliverables and comprehensive tender documentation. At GRIP 6 (construction stage), Giorgos continued to lead the lighting scope on site, undertaking mock-ups, commissioning, and snagging activities to ensure the design intent was fully realised. His role required close coordination with multidisciplinary teams and careful consideration of the project’s complex heritage constraints, ensuring a sensitive integration of lighting within one of the UK’s most historically significant railway environments.
Project images
Photos by Paul Karalius (paulkaralius.com). Photos and graphics by BDP. (Prince's Bridge, add section/sketch.)
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Available for lighting design, consultancy and collaboration across the UK and internationally.