Christchurch Intergrated Airport, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand

HASSELL on site with new Christchurch Integrated terminal
Designed by HASSELL, in conjunction with celebrated local architects Warren and Mahoney the new Christchurch Integrated Terminal is currently on site.

This major project sees the demolition of the existing 1960 domestic terminal and the creation of a new state of the art facility that will provide Christchurch International Airport Limited with facilities of an international standard to service the growing air travel market within New Zealand.

The development consists of the new terminal, offices, a multi-storey car park, surface car parking with a landscape plaza and airside works. It is currently the largest construction project in the South Island. Responding to the latest developments in air travel, the new terminal is unique in a number of ways: its new check-in hall accommodating both domestic and international customers is designed to accommodate innovative self service kiosks and compact check-in desks facilitating faster passenger processing; traditionally separate airside departure lounges have been centralised to maximize flexibility, improve wayfinding and maximize space utilisation; and landside approach is across an innovative traffic free plaza., rather than by crossing the multitude of roads currently at the terminal.

Swing gates help with flexibility - allowing certain gates to be used either as Domestic or International configuration - some flights can arrive internationally and carry on Domestically on the same gate.

The client, Christchurch International Airport Limited, is the first Carbon Neutral Airport Company in the Southern Hemisphere and from the beginning of the project was committed to ensure that significant ESD initiatives would be employed in the design of the complex facility. The biggest contributor to future carbon saving is the use of the artesian layer under Canterbury Plains which has a 5+ degree difference in winter or summer. The project utilises this difference by taping into this layer with a closed loop heat exchange removing the need for traditional chiller technology.

The terminal will remain in full operation during a complex staged construction and commissioning process which will be completed in 2011 in time for the Rugby World Cup.
source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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