A Superb Terminal – Sydney travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Sydney’s terminal is a dynamic building with a remarkable clarity of organization given the complexities of program, staging and site constraints. The scale of the main entrance space and this clarity ensure that the building, while large (170 metres long, 45 metres wide and three storeys high) is not intimidating and that navigation through the space is always clear. The whole building incorporates arrivals, check-ins, valet parking, staff areas, Golden Wing Club, a link concourse, departure lounges and baggage sorting areas. Arrivals are accommodated on the ground level and check-in is located on the upper level. The transparent structure both encloses and releases the space. The airport architects’ detailed analysis of airport systems had delivered a building that appears as a simple elegant open space which belies the complexity of the services that are necessary in a project of this type.
The mono pitch roof and glazed envelope allows light to penetrate deep into the plan and the surrounding environment and movement can be observed from many vantage points. Syndney’s airport has been designed to accommodate future expansion and is indeed an appropriate icon to flight. This 35,000m2 Multi-user Terminal (formerly
The Ansett Terminal) at Sydney Airport was completely transformed from a one level building with elements dating back to the 1930’s to a two level modern terminal designed to suit the airlines’ future needs and to be seen as a flagship terminal in the Australian network. All The design of the new terminal, with a budget of $167 million, had to suit the new two level road system which links the domestic terminal precinct. Departures are located on the upper level and arrivals at ground level. The concourses to aircraft gates occur at a mid level and these remained as refurbished elements in the reconstruction process. The major challenge for the design team and the contractor was to stage the works so that the terminal remained operational throughout the rebuilding period. This was done as a three stage process starting from the eastern end. An existing hanger used for valet parking vehicles was initially demolished in order to make sufficient space to construct a two level space eventually for storage of the valet cars.
This new structure was then transformed into a temporary check-in hall at ground level with an enclosed ramp up to concourse level. Once this was operational the existing check-in hall was demolished and the two level structure continued westward to be fitted out as the final departure and arrival levels of the terminal.
A simple pre-stressed, long span concrete structure formed the floor structure and this was used as a platform upon which to erect a series of repetitive pre-fabricated roof elements which were put up on a weekly cycle. These elements were almost fully completed, with roofing and ceiling components including lights and cabling constructed at floor level, before final erection. These structures sit on elegant tripod steel columns creating clear spans of approximately 40 metres at check-in level. Glass sky lights complete the roof in strips between each prefabricated structural element, providing daylight into the welcoming departure hall.