Details
The extension and major refurbishment of Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport transformed the airport’s main passenger facilities. SRV delivered the demanding alliance project in the midst of a 24-hour operational airport.
We carried out the extension and major refurbishment of Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport under an alliance contract. The project was part of Finavia’s EUR 1 billion development programme, which aimed to strengthen Helsinki Airport’s position as a major European airport and prepare for growing passenger numbers.
The project comprised both new construction and the major refurbishment of existing facilities. The total scope was 75,000 square metres, of which the extension accounted for 40,000 square metres. The renewed Terminal 2 opened to passengers in December 2021.
A smoother passenger journey
The Terminal 2 extension brought new departure and arrival halls, check-in facilities, security control, baggage reclaim and a passenger reception area to Helsinki Airport. At the same time, the former departure and arrival halls were converted into gate areas.
The terminal is not only a place where flights depart and arrive. The extension also includes a travel centre connecting different modes of transport.
Passenger comfort was at the heart of the renewal. The aim was to make the terminal clear, smooth and straightforward for passengers to use as passenger numbers at the airport increase and different modes of transport need to work seamlessly together.
Construction at a fully operational airport
More than 20 million passengers travel through Helsinki Airport each year. The airport could not stop operating during construction, as passengers are on the move around the clock.
This made the Terminal 2 project exceptionally demanding. Service desks were relocated, routes were changed and the work was carefully phased so that airport operations could continue as smoothly as possible.
Around 400 construction professionals worked on the site and almost 200 designers were involved in the project. In total, nearly 1,000 people worked on the Terminal 2 extension and alteration project.
Alliance model supported a complex project
The project combined a smooth passenger experience and environmental considerations with demanding construction work.
The Terminal 2 extension and alteration project was delivered under an alliance contract. The alliance comprised Finavia, SRV and the members of the design team: ALA Architects Ltd, HKP Architects Ltd and Ramboll Finland Oy.
Under the alliance model, design and construction were carried out jointly, with the project’s risks and benefits shared between the parties. This approach was well suited to a technically demanding project. The success of the project was evident both in the end result and in the collaboration: the construction site achieved all the targets set for the alliance.
An award-winning project in Finland and internationally
The Terminal 2 extension is also an architecturally impressive development. Its most visible feature for passengers is the undulating wooden ceiling, which brings warmth and a distinctive character to the terminal.
The Terminal 2 extension and alteration project at Helsinki Airport has received several Finnish and international awards. The project received Rakennuslehti’s Construction Site of the Year 2021 award and the Steel Structure of the Year 2021 award.
The project’s expertise in building information modelling was recognised with wins in the Finland and Baltics category of the Tekla BIM Awards 2021 and in the Tekla Global BIM Awards 2022. The project also received the international European Steel Design Award 2023.
The awards reflect the exceptional standard of the project, but above all, the result can be seen in the airport’s smooth operation every day for thousands of passengers.
IMAGES: Tuomas Uusheimo
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