$45 million BNE terminal redevelopment kicks off

Brisbane Airport Corporation’s (BAC) $45-million International Terminal redevelopment kicks off this week with the project to be delivered in stages to ensure day to day operations continue as per usual.

Stage 1 will prepare the terminal for the commencement of major reconfiguration works, with Stage 2 focusing on the redesign of Levels 2 and 3 providing more space for additional seating, dwell and relaxation areas and specialty retail stores, as well as the construction of the new JR Duty Free walk through store opening September 2014.

The latter stages will complete the central dwell seating areas with new retailers opening for business from April 2014 – July 2015. The entire redevelopment is expected to be finalised mid-2015.

Julieanne Alroe, BAC CEO and Managing Director, said careful staging will ensure that progressive growth of the airport can occur while ensuring passengers are not inconvenienced.

“With the airport operating 24/7 the project team has done considerable planning to make sure there is as little disruption to travellers as possible.

“This includes taking into account major events such as the G20 Summit in November when we’re expecting a significant number of high profile international guests through our terminal,” Ms Alroe said.

Works will take place during the quiet times of the day, with major construction scheduled late at night and in the early morning so that disruption to travellers is minimal. There will be no impact to the usual passenger check-in, screening and security processes.

During the construction period additional way-finding signage will provide easy passage around the airport with information display boards detailing the new improvements.

All current retail and dining services will continue to operate during normal trading hours while the renovations take place, with more retail and dining options as well as new relaxation and play areas being steadily introduced within the 19-month works program.

As part of the redesign, major new artworks by two Queensland artists will be incorporated into the terminal as a focal point of the redesign.

“Arriving passengers will be greeted by a striking artwork by Sally Gabori aptly called a ‘sensory hug’ that will cover the entire 750m concourse of Level 2 while on Level 3 a piece titled ‘Keep the Sunshine’ by Sebastian Moody will give departing passengers a memorable farewell from Brisbane,” Ms Alroe said.

In the coming months, the art piece ‘Anchorage and Passage’ by artist Ben Trupperbaumer that was installed nearly 20 years ago as part of the original terminal in 1995 will be relocated from Level 3 to the Level 2 Arrivals Hall ‘meet and greet’ area.