Auckland Airport required an expanded arrivals area in the International Terminal to accommodate the projected increase in the number of passengers arriving into New Zealand. The expansion called for an innovative approach to develop a design solution that enabled construction to proceed while maintaining airport operations.
A new arrivals hall sits at the centre of this development, allowing more travellers to be processed per hour, particularly during the busy southern hemisphere summer period. The expansion includes an expanded retail area to maximise the retail opportunities. The retail area included the largest arrivals duty free store in the Asia-Pacific region.
The expansion also provided a new two-gate Pier B, providing dual passenger boarding bridge access to Stands 15 and 16 able to handle the new generation A380 aircraft, which entered services on Auckland routes in early 2009. The two gates can handle from four smaller aircraft to two A380 aircraft.
The design of the new arrivals area and Pier B allows for flexibility and expansion in the long term, while reusing the existing building as much as possible. Auckland Airport's commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated through a variety of 'green' initiatives in the design including energy saving systems, material selections and the use of solar energy. This resulted in a US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating - the first building of its type in the southern hemisphere.
Beca provided project and cost management plus all engineering services.
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