The undulating Redmond Technology Station Pedestrian Bridge canopy provides a safe, shaded traverse for pedestrians and bicycles over State Route 520, connecting the eastern and western halves of Microsoft’s 500-acre corporate campus. The 1,100’ long by 50’ wide bridge crosses more than 20 lanes of roadway and two sets of light rail beneath. At roughly a quarter mile long, the series of large interconnecting PTFE canopies provide a wide walking path, two lanes for bicycles, benches, and landscape planters.

Enclos Tensile Structures (ETS) provided design-assist services for the PTFE membrane structure, which included 110 tons of architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS). The steel structure includes bolt-spliced rolled pipe sections beneath the PTFE and stainless-steel catenary cables clamping the membrane’s edge between the rolled sections. Nearing the center of the bridge, the apex of the membrane and steel masts increase in height, creating daylight oculi that are penetrated by the supporting column. To create a safe environment at night, the underside of the PTFE membrane integrates a unique lighting ring. Additionally, the design geometry required each bay to be unique, which in turn required each structural steel component, each membrane cable assembly length, and each of the 33 PTFE membrane assemblies to also be unique.

Photos by GeekWire.