Artist’s render of the exterior of the new Nelson Airport building.
Nelson Airport’s new $32 million terminal redevelopment will highlight the capability of engineered wood products, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association.
LVL from Nelson Pine Industries is integral to the structure, which will incorporate around 440 cubic metres of locally sourced timber.
A dampening system is being incorporated into 24 columns that can absorb large seismic loads. The roof is a lightweight engineered panel that acts as a ceiling diaphragm.
Nelson Airport’s futuristic new terminal building will utilise local timber materials and technologies.
Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans says Studio Pacific Architecture presented the airport company with the ‘courageous’ proposal for the new terminal around a year ago.
Nelson Airport consulted with airlines to ensure the floorplan of the new terminal was functional and worked in an operational capacity before the architects and engineers got to work designing the structure, along with the roof and columns to support it.
Rob says after months of planning behind closed doors it has been great to release the designs to the public, which has been overwhelmingly positive in its support.
Construction will begin on the new terminal building in around April next year once some car parking and services work is completed, and Airways builds a new control tower at the airport.