Tauranga Airport Terminal expansion

Our Waikato/Bay of Plenty team completed a major expansion of Tauranga Airport, doubling the floor area from around 1,700m² to 3,900m² in an 18 month project. This included a new baggage handling shed, departure lounge, baggage claim area, check-in facilities, car rental area and café, plus significant extensions to the airline lounge and facilities.

We gave the existing terminal a facelift to incorporate it with the new additions, plus a comprehensive seismic upgrade to bring it up to importance level 3 standard. This involved drilling 20 screw piles to attach to rock at 27 metres below ground level, a solution reached with extensive early contractor involvement that reduced the complexity and the cost of the project. A seismic joint between the old and new buildings means they can move independently in an earthquake.

The extension is beautiful, practical and sustainable, with eye-catching timber glulam portal frames and patterned acoustic timber ceilings a main feature in the departure lounge.

With the airport fully operational throughout, open communication with all the stakeholders was paramount to the success of this project. We developed meticulous construction methodologies and safety plans to complete the work while accounting for airport staff, passengers, air traffic control, aviation security and the weather. Construction was staged to allow work to proceed without compromising airport operations, and we completed extensive out of hours work.

Designed to future-proof Tauranga Airport for 10-15 years in one of the fastest growing regions in the country, the terminal has been very well received by the client, airport staff and passengers.