The last piece of steel frame for the main building of the
International Pier Project was installed at Birmingham
Airport today, Thursday 18 December 2008
.
The building is being constructed to provide the Airport
with state-of-the-art facilities to handle increasing demand,
and to meet the Airport’s exciting aspirations to improve
global connectivity from the Midlands
.
The construction of the International Pier, which started
in June this year at a cost of £45m, is the single biggest
investment the Airport has made in over 20 years, and
will replace the current out-dated facility constructed in
1984 on Terminal One
.
The building will provide enhanced air-bridged aircraft
parking for seven wide-bodied next generation
environmentally-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus
A350 or the Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’, as well as the
larger aircraft types we already see at Birmingham
today like the Airbus A330 and Boeing 747 and 777
.
The flexible parking arrangement can also provide more
space for up to 13 short-haul jets at any given time
.
Will Heynes, the Airport’s Operations Director, who fixed
the last bolt in the final piece of steel frame, said, "Today
signifies the completion of the main steel structure and we
can really see the Pier taking shape. This building will play
an important part in our strategy for long-haul carriers and
will help us meet our aspirations to provide world-wide
services from the Midlands. It will be an essential piece
of Airport infrastructure should we get final approval
for our runway extension in the New Year"
.
Construction of the three storey building which is 240
metres long and 24 metres wide, is being carried out by
Laing O’Rourke Construction Limited. Colin Potts, the
Project Leader for Laing O’Rourke, "We are delighted to be
undertaking the construction of the New International Pier
and to continue our long standing association with
Birmingham Airport which began nearly 30 years ago"
.
Passengers will depart from the lounge on the top floor
of the building. On the second floor arriving passengers
will be speedily channelled through to Immigration and
Customs facilities. The second floor will also provide space
for a new Executive Lounge for Emirates Airlines. Meanwhile,
the ground floor will also provide office accommodation
for airline and handling agents
.
The Pier will also provide vertical segregation to separate
inbound and outbound passenger traffic, in line with
national security requirements. New gate lounges for
passengers will also be created
.
The building has been designed to encompass the latest
building regulations and meets the latest environmental
standards and performances for buildings of this type. The
project team have established a collaborative working
environment to plan the works in detail using process
mapping, 3D modelling and well monitored performance
measures to ensure that all the stakeholders deliver on
programme
.
The Project Manager on the construction is Mace Limited,
the Architect is Pascall & Watson, and the Structural,
Civil and Fire Engineering is by Buro Happold. Mechanical
and Electrical design is by Hulley and Kirkwood, the CDM
Coordinator is Mace Sustain and the Cost Management
Consultant is Faithful and Gould
.
A view of the full length of the new International Pier.
Thursday 18 December 2008
To commemorate Birmingham Airport's 70th Anniversary and the
.... on arrival in the new International Pier guests walked down a 
.... on arrival in the new International Pier guests walked down a 
.
.... before arriving at the end of the Pier which offers magnificent
.
Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham International Airport, 
To get everyone in the spirit of the day BHX staff donned 
To get everyone in the spirit of the day BHX staff donned 
