Changi Airport Group appoints project consortium for Terminal 4

SINGAPORE, 24 April 2013 – Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced today that it has appointed an architect and design consortium (Consortium) to pilot the overall architecture, design concept and construction of Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 (T4).

Members of the appointed Consortium include:

• SAA Architects Pte Ltd – Lead Agency
• Benoy Ltd
• AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd
• Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEA) Pte Ltd

SAA Architects is one of Singapore’s leading architecture firms.  It has bagged numerous Building and Construction Authority Green Mark Awards for projects such as nex and Jem.  International design firm Benoy is recognised for works such as ION Orchard.  AECOM Singapore and Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEA) are renowned civil and structural engineering, and mechanical and electrical engineering consultants respectively.

The appointment of the Consortium follows a design competition which saw five consortia comprising Singapore and internationally renowned firms submitting proposals. 

The Consortium is now working closely with CAG’s operations and development teams to integrate operational requirements into the design of T4 to ensure that the unique Changi Experience is preserved and further enhanced for travellers and staff working in the terminal. 

Workshops will be conducted with various stakeholders, including airlines, groundhandlers, immigration and security agencies, retail and food & beverage operators as well as other users to ensure that the T4 design meets the needs of each party.  The end objective is to ensure that T4, when operational, will deliver a seamless and refreshing experience for travellers, and also be a place where staff will feel proud and motivated to work.

The two-storey terminal is being designed with the flexibility to meet the operational needs of both regional full service and low cost carriers.  Demolition of the previous Budget Terminal is almost complete and groundbreaking for T4 is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, with operations to begin in 2017.  The plans and designs for T4 are being fine-tuned and will be released when ready.

Mr Yam Kum Weng, CAG’s Executive Vice President (Air Hub & Development), said, “We thank the many participants in our competition.  We were impressed with their passion in wanting to help shape Changi Airport’s future.  The SAA-led consortium delivered the best proposal which encapsulated our vision for T4 by breaking new ground in passenger experience for travellers, while ensuring smooth and efficient operations for airlines and airport agencies.

Mr Yam added, “Architecturally, the design of T4 will be functional, and yet have its own distinct character compared to the other three terminals at Changi Airport.  Due to height restrictions and the area of the site available, T4 will be smaller in terms of physical space and handling capacity.  Our focus for the development of T4 will be on its interior and ensuring that the design and layout continues to be passenger-centric and user-friendly.  It will offer what passengers want – a good range of leisure amenities, convenient facilities and attractive commercial offerings.”

Mr Yeo Siew Haip, Managing Director of SAA Architects and Project Director for the development of Terminal 4, said, “SAA Architects has been making our mark on cosmopolitan skylines across the region.  We are honoured to be appointed the Lead Agency for the T4 project.  Our role is to lead and manage the consortium of specialist consultants from 13 different companies and to work closely with CAG to meet the requirements of multiple stakeholders, in order to deliver the new terminal within three years.  We are committed to bring the travellers' experience to new heights, contributing to Singapore’s goal of being a leading aviation hub.”

Mr David Buffonge, Design Director of Benoy Ltd, said, “We are extremely excited to bring Benoy’s philosophy and reputation of delivering creative yet commercially viable designs to the prestigious T4 development, to be built at Singapore Changi Airport.  Our successful scheme will generate a distinct personality for T4, celebrating the notions of energy and movement whilst embracing timeless yet dynamic design attributes to create a truly unique ‘sense of place’ for the scheme, allowing visitors to make the most of their travel time in a serene setting.”