Citu Footbridge
Spanning the River Aire, the Citu Footbridge connects two new residential developments within the Climate Innovation District in Leeds. More than a crossing, the bridge serves as a civic connector, encouraging active travel for the communities on either side of the river, while providing a conduit to a district heating network and data services.
The award-winning bridge provides the South Bank with inclusive and contextually relevant placemaking infrastructure for a thriving community of 500 low-carbon homes and workplaces.
| Client | Citu |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Gagarin Studio |
| Size | Single-span, 164 Linear Feet (50 M) |
| Sustainability | Supports active travel. Built from recyclable steel. |
| Office: | Hebden Bridge |
| Completion: | 2019 |
DeSimone’s structural team engineered a complex, elegant steel structure that had meaningful local impact for the area, which has a history of significant flooding. The footbridge is elevated to a height that mitigates the impact of climate events.
We developed a refined box-section arch that spans the full width of the river without midstream supports, minimizing environmental disruption. The balustrade, composed of 16 different shape profiles sequenced and repeated, is an eye-catching concertina-like form that looks folded, twisted, and stretched.
COR-TEN steel used throughout the bridge rendered a maintenance-free and fully recyclable structure that will evolve in color as it patinas over time.
