Auckland Airport Transport Hub: Navigating Complexity in Transit Design

Brevity Interiors NZ

If you’ve visited Auckland Airport recently, you’ll have noticed the significant transformation of the terminal precinct. The opening of the first stage of the new Transport Hub revealed an impressive transit area that sets a new standard for traveler experience. While the artistic aluminium batons on the ceiling add significant aesthetic flair, the true engineering feat lies in the unseen challenges within the ceiling space.

Designed by Peddlethorp, the Transport Hub has revolutionized the former car park into a world-class facility. At 200 metres in length and four stories tall, the hub doubled the size of the pickup/drop-off area for the 50,000 travelers passing through daily. The project also prioritized sustainability, incorporating a rooftop solar array to support a 5-Star Green rating and future electric vehicle charging.

Seismic Restraints and Spatial Challenges

Brevity was engaged by TSA Management to provide a wide array of non-structural seismic design throughout the structure. Initially, the engagement focused on the seismic restraint of the suspended ceiling on the ground floor.

The primary challenge was the severely limited space; a high density of services left very little room for the bracing required to meet seismic standards. To overcome this, the Brevity team utilized a sophisticated combination of:

• Cantilevering from the roof structure.
• Standard bracing where space permitted.
• Alternative bridging details to navigate around existing services.

Collaborative Problem Solving

As a large and complex project, the Transport Hub required frequent troubleshooting of non-structural engineering issues during the construction phase. Having established a strong working relationship during the ceiling design phase, TSA continued to leverage Brevity’s expertise to solve various challenges as they arose. These designs ranged from timber supports for wide guttering to specialized bracing for exit signs and numerous other bespoke details required to keep the project moving.

Construction Monitoring and Site Support

Throughout the project, Brevity maintained a strong presence on-site with over 10 formal site inspections. These visits were highly collaborative; our engineers walked the site with contractors to discuss practical options. By understanding how the contractors preferred to build, our team could work designs around those preferences, often creating design sketches on-site before finalizing them in the office.

This agile approach kept the site moving quickly and ensured a high level of communication via platforms like Aconex. The success of this partnership was reflected when the commercial building provider, Icon, engaged Brevity for subsequent New Zealand projects based on the collaborative nature of the Transport Hub delivery.

Brevity’s involvement in this landmark project highlights our commitment to finding practical, code-compliant solutions in even the most congested environments.

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