Birmingham International Airport Starts £45M Modernisation

June 19 2008

Birmingham International Airport has begun the construction of a massive £45 million state-of-the-art extension to Terminal One.  The new 'International Pier' will replace the current out-dated facility constructed in 1984.  It is the single biggest investment that the Airport has made in over 20 years.

The new Pier will be a three storey construction; 240 metres long and 24 metres wide.  Departing passengers will be accommodated on the top level, with arriving passengers on the middle level and office accommodation for airline and handling agents on the ground floor. 

The new facility will provide air-bridged aircraft parking for seven wide-bodied aircraft and enough space to serve 13 smaller aircraft at any given time.  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 will be in keeping with the bright and modern architecture seen throughout the terminals today.  It will also enable the Airport to accommodate 21st century aircraft to prepare for future demand and meet Birmingham Airport's exciting aspirations to improve global connectivity from the Midlands.

Will Heynes, the Airport's Operations Director, who has overall responsibility for the project, explained:

This investment will provide the Airport with facilities to enable it to meet the growing demand for international services to global destinations from Birmingham. Once complete, the Pier will provide a high quality gateway into the Midlands for foreign visitors.

The building will be capable of accommodating 'next generation' environmentally-efficient wide-bodied aircraft such as the Airbus A350 or the Boeing 787 'Dreamliner', as well as the larger aircraft types we see at Birmingham today like the Airbus A330 and Boeing 747 and 777.

The building has been designed to encompass the latest building regulations and innovative construction practises.  It meets the latest environmental standards and performances for buildings of this type.

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. Construction will be carried out by Laing O'Rourke Construction North Limited.

The start of the project was commemorated with a 'ground breaking' ceremony this morning (see images & captions below).

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