Heathrow East Terminal
Encyclopedia
Terminal 2 is a new airport terminal under construction at London Heathrow Airport
, the main airport serving London
, England
. The airport's previous Terminal 2, which was the oldest terminal at the airport and dated from 1955, closed in 2009. Formerly named as Heathrow East Terminal, the new terminal will replace the existing Terminal 1, as well as the former Terminal 2.
The new terminal is Heathrow's current major construction project, occupying a site similar in size to that of Terminal 5. The first phase will cover an area of 180,000m2. It was expected to be completed in 2012, in time for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but this date has become increasing unlikely due to teething problems with the opening of Terminal 5, and is now expected to open in 2014, followed by a second phase to replace Terminal 1, which will open in 2019.
The terminal is designed by Foster and Partners
who also designed the Hong Kong International Airport
and Beijing Capital International Airport
. When opened it will become home to Star Alliance
, as part of BAA's plan to maximise the efficiency of the airport by reducing transfer times and improving the passenger experience. The new terminal will have one satellite building, and when opened will have capacity for 30 million passengers annually. The site covers an area of 185,000m sq. Like Terminal 5, much of the building will be constructed off-site, helping to overcome many of the logistical constraints of building in the world's busiest international airport.
The new terminal's design continues the "toast rack" principle employed in the construction of Terminal 5, a layout that maximises use of the airport's land by placing the terminal building and its satellites perpendicular to the runways. One half of the core terminal building, to be known as Terminal 2A, will be built as phase one and the second half as phase two. There will also be two satellite buildings named Terminal 2B and Terminal 2C.
Terminal 2B has been under construction since 2008. The first phase of the building was completed in November 2009 and its six gates have been operational since early 2010. Passengers currently access it via a temporary bridge from Terminal 1. The second phase has been under construction since October 2010. When completed, this will provide ten additional aircraft stands. It will be connected to the main terminal building by an underground link.
Terminal 2C will be similar in scale to Terminal 2B and will be built as part of the second phase of the development.
When completed, the entire project will have a capacity of 30 million passengers a year and will cost £1–1.5bn. The new Terminal 2 will produce 40 per cent less carbon dioxide than the buildings it replaces. Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the building with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting without generating uncomfortable levels of heat in the building. Solar-panels on the roof will further reduce dependency on energy supplies. A new energy centre, partially fuelled by renewable resources, will provide its heating and cooling.
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
, the main airport serving London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The airport's previous Terminal 2, which was the oldest terminal at the airport and dated from 1955, closed in 2009. Formerly named as Heathrow East Terminal, the new terminal will replace the existing Terminal 1, as well as the former Terminal 2.
The new terminal is Heathrow's current major construction project, occupying a site similar in size to that of Terminal 5. The first phase will cover an area of 180,000m2. It was expected to be completed in 2012, in time for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but this date has become increasing unlikely due to teething problems with the opening of Terminal 5, and is now expected to open in 2014, followed by a second phase to replace Terminal 1, which will open in 2019.
The terminal is designed by Foster and Partners
Foster and Partners
Foster + Partners is an architectural firm based in London. The practice is led by its founder and Chairman, Norman Foster, and has constructed many high-profile glass-and-steel buildings....
who also designed the Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
and Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport, is the main international airport serving Beijing, China. It is located northeast of Beijing's city center in an enclave of Chaoyang District that is surrounded by rural Shunyi District. The airport is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital...
. When opened it will become home to Star Alliance
Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
, as part of BAA's plan to maximise the efficiency of the airport by reducing transfer times and improving the passenger experience. The new terminal will have one satellite building, and when opened will have capacity for 30 million passengers annually. The site covers an area of 185,000m sq. Like Terminal 5, much of the building will be constructed off-site, helping to overcome many of the logistical constraints of building in the world's busiest international airport.
The new terminal's design continues the "toast rack" principle employed in the construction of Terminal 5, a layout that maximises use of the airport's land by placing the terminal building and its satellites perpendicular to the runways. One half of the core terminal building, to be known as Terminal 2A, will be built as phase one and the second half as phase two. There will also be two satellite buildings named Terminal 2B and Terminal 2C.
Terminal 2B has been under construction since 2008. The first phase of the building was completed in November 2009 and its six gates have been operational since early 2010. Passengers currently access it via a temporary bridge from Terminal 1. The second phase has been under construction since October 2010. When completed, this will provide ten additional aircraft stands. It will be connected to the main terminal building by an underground link.
Terminal 2C will be similar in scale to Terminal 2B and will be built as part of the second phase of the development.
When completed, the entire project will have a capacity of 30 million passengers a year and will cost £1–1.5bn. The new Terminal 2 will produce 40 per cent less carbon dioxide than the buildings it replaces. Large north-facing windows in the roof will flood the building with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting without generating uncomfortable levels of heat in the building. Solar-panels on the roof will further reduce dependency on energy supplies. A new energy centre, partially fuelled by renewable resources, will provide its heating and cooling.