Heathrow Terminal T-2A is on the architects planning boards with drawings and renderings done and plans for an opening in 2013 if all goes right. The new building will a bit smaller than the ill-fated Terminal T-5, measuring about 100 feet less on one side and 75 feet longer on the other. The architectural highpoint will be its rippling roof.
The waved ceiling acts as a guide,” BAA head of T2A delivery Duncan Pickard said. “There are three key activities happening on the top floor of the terminal − check-in, security and departures.
“At check in, the roof rises. After check in, it dips down to the exit. As you’re coming into security, it opens out again, then dips down again at the exit and then rises up again into the integrated departure lounge.
The terminal is being build in the same cramped are where today’s T-2 stands. It will be a tough job with subway tunnels running beneath the worksite and existing terminals hemming the workspace in on all sides. The design of the terminal has taken these working constraints into consideration.
The project spokesperson noted:
We have learned from T5. The building centers around 12 cores. Each core is a 9m by 9m box, 18m tall. You can split the cores into modules 2.5m by 2.5m by 9m long − to transport by road − so you have a number of plug and play boxes manufactured off site. We can commission in zones and reduce the length of time in build.”
Once construction is underway, progress on site will be rapid. Manufacturing of the modules needs to start next year so that when the site is ready for installation to start in August 2010, the right amount of modules can be delivered when they are needed.
Heavens know, Heathrow needs some sprucing up. Let’s hope this new terminal is not as traumatic as T5. Good luck.
After several decades working in a variety of jobs as a newspaper writer, event publicist, communications specialist, and marketing director, Karen Cummings is now “retired” and working on Travelers United’s social media and newsletters in addition to occasionally contributing a travel-related article to TU’s blog. She lives close to her family in Fryeburg, Maine, and travels as often as she can.
