Die Kapenaar
September 10th, 2009, 10:00 PM
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Construction Review
September 2009
East London Airport Upgrades
East London would not have been in many conversations years ago when referring to South African cities with diverse economic resources and international business potential—however times have changed.
The recent business developments of Mercedes Benz SA and other global manufacturers including the boost to the city’s industrial capacity with the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ), East London has become one of the country’s top economic powerhouses. Being in close proximity to the ELIDZ, the airport currently plays an essential role to increased business access, and in the near future will provide an evermore imperative function for the city’s burgeoning growth.
The escalating popularity of the East London as a preferred business, leisure and lifestyle destination vis-à-vis increasing passengers at the current airport, has strained its limited resources; which has reflected poor service due to inadequate facilities/personnel to sufficiently handle the increased capacity.
Terminal upgrade project
This need for supporting increase air freight requirements and capacity building has led Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to invest further into the capacity building of the airport. With an average of about 20 daily flights landing at the airport and approximately 346 000 people each year, ACSA seized the opportunity with its recent Terminal upgrade project.
The upgrading and expansion of the terminal building was set in motion in order to decisively address the airport’s shortfall. ‘Modernising’ the airport will include both internal and external renovations in its pursuit to becoming a state-of-the-art / world-class structure.
On the existing terminal’s western side is a new component that will be used to accommodate an arrivals area, additional retail space and the expanded greeters’ area. Modern ticket offices, VIP / Premier Lounge and a larger departure lounge are new features on the terminal’s eastern wing.
Aside from the new builds on site, the upgrades alone will result in approximately 2300m2 of floor space, bigger luggage carousels, an extended passenger holding lounge and extra check-in counters. A touch of indigenous African design will also feature in the internal works of the central atrium, as a traditional Xhosa motif will be carried out through this area.
The expansion and upgrade of the Airport required environmental authorisation from the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). In particular, the expansion of the apron and terminal building required that a Basic Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted under the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) as amended in July 2006.
The Basic Assessment was conducted by Coastal and Environmental Services before the construction of the terminal commenced. The Basic Assessment Report concluded that whilst the urgent expansion of the terminal was needed, environmental issues surrounding storm water, construction and waste management were significant issues that should be dealt with as part of an Environmental Management Plan.
This report was submitted to National DEAT (May 2007) and environmental authorisation was granted in August 2007. Coastal and Environmental Services have since implemented the Environmental Management Plan as Environmental Control Officers and will continue to do so until the completion of the project.
Redefining the project
Bunmi Ilori, Principal Architect for IDC Architects, mentions redefining the project’s scope due to fiscal pressures was an invariable challenge the professional consultants had to contend with. As can be imagined with any construction activity in an area that must maintain functionality, another challenge levelled against the team was attempting to seamlessly maintain the airport’s daily operations.
Valued at R97 million (12.5 million USD) , once completed in January 2010 the upgrade will include a new terminal building as well as:
• Increase in check-in counters from 12 to 17, with space for passenger queues increasing from 338m2 to 969m2.
• Central Screening Security check-in points will be increased from one to two points
• Departure lounge area will increase from 402m2 to 529m2 (excluding the new coffee shop)
• Departure gates will go from 2 to 4
• Arrivals lounge will be increased from 322m2 to 623m2 with two new and larger baggage carousels for baggage collection
• Passenger meeting area adjacent to this will increase from 194m2 to 491m2
• VIP lounge will be relocated and increase in size from 38m2 to 76m2
In addition to these component upgrades, the airport will be receiving new infrastructure and equipment installed throughout the building. This includes having a new HBS (Hold Baggage Screening) system as per the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Authority. The newly renovated airport will also be fully air-conditioned and covered walkways will be erected on the airside. Other construction developments related to the airport that will also be implemented include:
• Relocation of some current stakeholder operation from within the terminal thus creating more capacity for passengers
• Construction of a new car rental building to accommodate all car rental companies
• Upgraded apron (aircraft parking stand), with flood lights
• Runaway drainage rehabilitation programme
• Reconfiguration of car park and roadway including extension of the car park
Professional Team
Client Airport Company South Africa
Architect IDC Architects
Engineer BKS Engineering
Kwesi V3 Engineers
Quantity Surveyors FWJK Quantity Surveyors
Environmental Consultants Coastal & Environmental Services
Main Contractor Gordon Verhoef &Krause
Construction Review
September 2009
East London Airport Upgrades
East London would not have been in many conversations years ago when referring to South African cities with diverse economic resources and international business potential—however times have changed.
The recent business developments of Mercedes Benz SA and other global manufacturers including the boost to the city’s industrial capacity with the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ), East London has become one of the country’s top economic powerhouses. Being in close proximity to the ELIDZ, the airport currently plays an essential role to increased business access, and in the near future will provide an evermore imperative function for the city’s burgeoning growth.
The escalating popularity of the East London as a preferred business, leisure and lifestyle destination vis-à-vis increasing passengers at the current airport, has strained its limited resources; which has reflected poor service due to inadequate facilities/personnel to sufficiently handle the increased capacity.
Terminal upgrade project
This need for supporting increase air freight requirements and capacity building has led Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to invest further into the capacity building of the airport. With an average of about 20 daily flights landing at the airport and approximately 346 000 people each year, ACSA seized the opportunity with its recent Terminal upgrade project.
The upgrading and expansion of the terminal building was set in motion in order to decisively address the airport’s shortfall. ‘Modernising’ the airport will include both internal and external renovations in its pursuit to becoming a state-of-the-art / world-class structure.
On the existing terminal’s western side is a new component that will be used to accommodate an arrivals area, additional retail space and the expanded greeters’ area. Modern ticket offices, VIP / Premier Lounge and a larger departure lounge are new features on the terminal’s eastern wing.
Aside from the new builds on site, the upgrades alone will result in approximately 2300m2 of floor space, bigger luggage carousels, an extended passenger holding lounge and extra check-in counters. A touch of indigenous African design will also feature in the internal works of the central atrium, as a traditional Xhosa motif will be carried out through this area.
The expansion and upgrade of the Airport required environmental authorisation from the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). In particular, the expansion of the apron and terminal building required that a Basic Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted under the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) as amended in July 2006.
The Basic Assessment was conducted by Coastal and Environmental Services before the construction of the terminal commenced. The Basic Assessment Report concluded that whilst the urgent expansion of the terminal was needed, environmental issues surrounding storm water, construction and waste management were significant issues that should be dealt with as part of an Environmental Management Plan.
This report was submitted to National DEAT (May 2007) and environmental authorisation was granted in August 2007. Coastal and Environmental Services have since implemented the Environmental Management Plan as Environmental Control Officers and will continue to do so until the completion of the project.
Redefining the project
Bunmi Ilori, Principal Architect for IDC Architects, mentions redefining the project’s scope due to fiscal pressures was an invariable challenge the professional consultants had to contend with. As can be imagined with any construction activity in an area that must maintain functionality, another challenge levelled against the team was attempting to seamlessly maintain the airport’s daily operations.
Valued at R97 million (12.5 million USD) , once completed in January 2010 the upgrade will include a new terminal building as well as:
• Increase in check-in counters from 12 to 17, with space for passenger queues increasing from 338m2 to 969m2.
• Central Screening Security check-in points will be increased from one to two points
• Departure lounge area will increase from 402m2 to 529m2 (excluding the new coffee shop)
• Departure gates will go from 2 to 4
• Arrivals lounge will be increased from 322m2 to 623m2 with two new and larger baggage carousels for baggage collection
• Passenger meeting area adjacent to this will increase from 194m2 to 491m2
• VIP lounge will be relocated and increase in size from 38m2 to 76m2
In addition to these component upgrades, the airport will be receiving new infrastructure and equipment installed throughout the building. This includes having a new HBS (Hold Baggage Screening) system as per the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Authority. The newly renovated airport will also be fully air-conditioned and covered walkways will be erected on the airside. Other construction developments related to the airport that will also be implemented include:
• Relocation of some current stakeholder operation from within the terminal thus creating more capacity for passengers
• Construction of a new car rental building to accommodate all car rental companies
• Upgraded apron (aircraft parking stand), with flood lights
• Runaway drainage rehabilitation programme
• Reconfiguration of car park and roadway including extension of the car park
Professional Team
Client Airport Company South Africa
Architect IDC Architects
Engineer BKS Engineering
Kwesi V3 Engineers
Quantity Surveyors FWJK Quantity Surveyors
Environmental Consultants Coastal & Environmental Services
Main Contractor Gordon Verhoef &Krause