Local knowledge and global expertise deliver airport design

Media release

June 29, 2011

Local knowledge and global expertise deliver airport design vision

When Christchurch Airport's new domestic first terminal opened in 1960, it was designed to cater for 200,000 passengers each year. Today, the airport handles the same number of passengers every 12 days, or more than six million passengers per year. The obvious capacity constraints were the main driver behind last month's completion of stage one of the airport's $237 million terminal redevelopment.

To provide the required design solution Christchurch Airport appointed home-grown architects Warren and Mahoney and international aviation design experts HASSELL, both well known for their sustainable design philosophies.

Warren and Mahoney Project Director Bill Gregory says the terminal project was the result of successful teamwork.

"The design was attributable to the whole project team. The Airport wanted a special building which was memorable and reflected the raw, natural beauty of the South island, along with its location in the Garden City. But it also needed to perform with singular efficiency as an integrated domestic and international terminal serving millions of passengers and visitors every year," Gregory says.

Tony Grist, Project Director from HASSELL says that clear, efficient planning and the collective experience from the team's technical experts had resulted in a relaxed design with clear functionality, but with a local flavour.

"The airport is the first experience many overseas travellers have of New Zealand, and we wanted to make sure they knew exactly where they were - in the South Island," says Grist.

Mr Gregory says the buildings interior contains reminders of the landscape in floor patterns, colours and finishes.

A particular feature is the 125 metre long Timaru basalt wall running the full length of the check in hall. The dark, textured stone wall carries the imprint of the rivers of the Canterbury plains.

Following completion of the next stage of the terminal redevelopment in 2012, visitors will be treated to panoramic vistas of the South Island's defining natural feature - the rugged Southern Alps.

Both Christchurch International Airport and Warren and Mahoney are carbon-neutral businesses, and HASSELL is a recognized leader in sustainble design, so it was appropriate that the project included some innovative sustainable features, says Gregory.

"Air conditioning is provided by extracting from or passing energy into artesian water which is pumped from below the ground. This system makes the terminal very energy efficient.

"Insulation levels are high, and lighting design has received a lot of thought from the whole design team, with energy efficiency and user control paramount," says Gregory

Jim Boult, Christchurch International Airport's Chief Executive, says Warren and Mahoney's local roots played an important part in their appointment to the project, and this was balanced with the international expertise of HASSELL.

"People down here are passionate about their city and passionate about their airport. Warren and Mahoney have a unique local flavour, they understand Christchurch and the importance of the airport to the region and its economy," Boult says.

Mr Boult says once the development is fully completed the city will have an asset that is well and truly future-proofed, and well positioned to continue delivering value to the entire South Island.

"90 per cent of overseas visitors who visit the South Island come through Christchurch airport and so we play an important part in the South Island's $4.5 billion tourism market. Despite the disruption caused by the earthquakes, this new terminal will continue to be something the city and the region can be really proud of for the next 20 years or more", he says.

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