T5 Facts!!

Terminal 5 is an additional passenger terminal which will supplement Heathrow’s existing four terminals, allowing the airport to grow in the future and enhancing BAA’s ability to provide high quality customer service.

The site for the terminal is within the airport’s perimeter road, between the two existing runways on land currently occupied by the Perry Oaks sludge works.

There will be a core terminal building and two satellites. Associated facilities such as car parking and a hotel are planned.

Terminal 5 is designed to be a world class public transport interchange served by the Heathrow Express and London Underground’s Piccadilly Line.

A spur road off the M25 directly linking the terminal to the national motorway network will ensure the impact of additional traffic on local roads will be minimised.

Over an estimated five to six-year period some 6,000 construction jobs will be created.

The terminal has been designed to accept the most advanced aircraft including those not yet in service such as the Airbus Industries A380.

Terminal 5 will have the capacity to accommodate around 30 million passengers.

T5 and its associated facilities will be funded by BAA, not the taxpayer.

The site for the main terminal building, satellites and associated aircraft stands covers 260 hectares, which is just under one quarter of the 1,200 hectares occupied by Heathrow currently.

As part of the Terminal 5 development a new state-of-the-art control tower will be built, measuring 87 meters high it will be designed to meet the demands of Air Traffic Control at Heathrow in the years ahead.

Terminal 5 will help to maintain Heathrow’s position as Europe’s premier airport hub, and give the UK a national gateway of great architectural merit.

Enhancing the passenger experience has been at the forefront of the design concept – which is to create an airport terminal characterised by open space, natural light, simplified passenger circulation, shorter walking distances and spectacular airfield views. The massing design of the campus has been similarly designed to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. This is achieved through the stepped elevation of the principal landside buildings rising up from the Colne Valley culminating with the main terminal building and crowned by a single span floating wave form roof.

The terminal building consists of four principal passenger levels providing complete segregation of arriving and departing passengers and simplified wayfinding and passenger circulation. These include:

the departures concourse at the top level leading to the check in area, security points and departures lounges

the departures gate level for boarding the aircraft

the arrivals gate level for access from aircraft

the arrivals concourse at ground level leading to the baggage reclaim hall, customs and arrivals concourse to onward travel facilities

The main terminal building envelope is 384 metres long, 165 metres wide and 43 metres high. It is supported by 11 pairs of giant steel support arches, which rise 39 metres from the ground. This design offers a vast, completely free and flexible internal space. Each facade is predominantly glazed allowing greater transparency through the building and clear views of the airfield and surrounding countryside. Maximising the use of natural light also contributes to the energy efficiency of the building.

Two further sub-ground levels include a basement for the baggage systems and track transit system which connects to the satellite buildings and below that, the rail station for the Heathrow Express and London Underground Piccadilly Line.

T5 is not the beginning or end of a journey, but a point of transit in a longer journey. For this reason, the terminal design incorporates a fully integrated multi-modal public transport interchange.

Unlike the traditional airport terminal design, the front of the terminal has been separated from vehicle traffic on forecourts through the creation of a pedestrianised and landscaped interchange plaza which runs the length of the building. Like the terminal building, the interchange plaza has been designed with the passenger experience in mind, providing a memorable civic space for passengers entering and leaving the airport.

The departures and arrivals concourses connect seamlessly to the various modes of public transport via glazed link bridges which span the interchange plaza. This allows direct and convenient access to and from the terminal to the bus, coach and taxi facilities which are integrated into the forecourts of the multi-storey car park (MSCP).

Express lifts rise vertically through the interchange plaza connecting the rail station with the arrivals and departures concourses.

Richard Rogers Partnership as principal architect has led a multi-disciplinary design team including Pascall and Watson, Chapman & Taylor, HOK, YRM, Priestman Goode and Din Associates, working with BAA’s own in-house development, design and operational teams.