Integrated Design – An Exemplary Solution in Form and Function; The Sursee Bus Terminal Canopy as a Model of Holistic Engineering

Abstract

The new bus terminal canopy in Sursee, Switzerland, exemplifies an integrated design approach that harmonizes architectural expression with technical precision. Developed through an interdisciplinary competition and completed in December 2024. At the heart of the design is a tensile ETFE cushion roof, suspended over a slender steel structure comprising ten fixed columns. These columns, some paired and connected by cantilever arms, support a continuous elliptical perimeter beam that defines the roof's geometry. The upper ETFE layer is tinted yellow, while the lower layer is transparent and printed with a linear pattern. Integrated LED lighting along the perimeter beam creates a luminous ceiling that simulates daylight at all hours, enhancing comfort and orientation for waiting passengers.