Auckland Airport’s new pier an investment in the future
The completion of a new $50 million international terminal pier at Auckland Airport marks the next stage in the airport’s development that will eventually provide for a projected 25 million passengers a year by 2025.
The new pier was officially opened at a special event on 10 October by the Rt Hon Helen Clark who said it was “a uniquely New Zealand design”.
The new pier’s opening was almost upstaged by the arrival of Qantas’ new A380 super-sized passenger jet – the first of its type to land in New Zealand.
“The new pier marks a significant milestone for us, and future-proofs New Zealand’s ability to compete on the world stage,” Auckland Airport CEO Simon Moutter says. “It provides the capacity and environment to support New Zealand tourism, travel and trade, and has been designed to accommodate the next generation of larger-sized planes, including the Airbus A380. It will greatly improve service to travellers by giving us the ability to handle more aircraft at peak times.”
Four years in the planning, the new pier will roll out the welcome mat when Emirates begins a daily A380 service between Dubai, Brisbane and Auckland from 1 February 2009. Auckland Airport is proud to be the only airport in New Zealand that can host the double-decker aircraft.
To be A380-friendly, the pier’s first gates, gate 15 and 16, are specially fitted with two New Zealand-made multi-aircraft ramp system (MARS) airbridges able to disembark or load both levels of the A380 simultaneously. The pier is able to service two A380s or four smaller aircraft at the same time.
The completion of the new pier ends a major construction phase at the international terminal. In April 2008, a new arrivals area opened, greatly increasing the facilitation of arriving travellers, followed by the completion of the expanded border agency screening hall in July.
The new pier is a wonderful example of how the airport strives to represent New Zealand by providing a uniquely Kiwi experience. The arrival and departure levels of the building feature specially selected imagery of unique fauna and flora, offering hints to international visitors of what New Zealand has to offer.
The new pier also sets a trend in environmental design as it prepares to become one of the first buildings in the country to be recognised with a new US rating for sustainable construction, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). It features solar heating for public toilet hot water and rain water harvesting, with an estimated 4000 cubic metres of recycled rainwater per year expected to be collected from the roof and piped to a tank farm for re-use.
The pier has highly filtrated air and carbon dioxide sensors, with an increased level of metering and sensors to allow monitoring and regulation of energy usage over time. Water use has been reduced by more than 40 percent through using low-flow fittings and collected rain water for the air-conditioning system cooling towers.
“A LEED building is designed and constructed to be environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work,” Mr Moutter says. “Auckland Airport’s new pier is built to LEED specifications, and we are awaiting confirmation that these standards have been met.”
|
