Heathrow Terminal 5 construction
Heathrow Airport, London, UK · 1987-2008 (conception to completion), 2002-2008 (construction) · £4.3 billion (2008 prices)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe T5 Agreement, a cost-reimbursable contract, protected supplier profits and encouraged collaboration, leading to on-time and within-budget delivery despite its complexity. - Extensive use of off-site trials and testing was crucial due to on-site restrictions and the project's scale. - The project faced significant public inquiry, highlighting the importance of early stakeholder engagement and environmental impact assessments. - Initial operational issues post-opening, particularly with the baggage system, underscored the need for thorough testing and integration of all systems before launch.
Key engineering challenges
Managing the immense scale of excavation and construction within an operational airport environment. - Designing and constructing large span structures for the terminal buildings while integrating complex baggage handling and transportation systems. - Overcoming significant subsurface challenges due to existing rail tunnels and infrastructure. - Implementing an innovative procurement and contracting strategy (T5 Agreement) to foster collaboration and manage risks.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- BAA (now Heathrow Airport Holdings)
- Lead contractor
- Multiple contractors, including Laing O'Rourke, Mace, Balfour Beatty, and others under the 'T5 Agreement'
- Lead designers
- Richard Rogers Partnership (RSHP) for architecture; Mott MacDonald, Robert Bird Group, Arup for engineering design
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Main terminal building (T5A) 300,000 m², two satellite terminals (T5B, T5C), 14,000-space car park, 3 new railway stations, 4 rail tunnels.
- Disciplines
- civil; structural; mechanical; electrical; process; systems; geotechnical; transport planning; fire engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- NEC (New Engineering Contract) principles (T5 Agreement), CDM Regulations
Sources: Wikipedia: Heathrow Terminal 5 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Terminal_5) - Parliament UK: The opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmtran/543/543.pdf) - Mott MacDonald: Heathrow Terminal 5 (https://www.mottmac.com/en-us/projects/heathrow-terminal-5/) - RSHP: Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport (https://rshp.com/projects/transport/terminal-5-heathrow-airport/)