Poland’s plans for a new international airport in Warsaw have passed another milestone, with the delivery of the building’s design. Slated for opening in 2032, the brand new airport project presents tender-winners Foster + Partners and Buro Happold with “a truly unique opportunity to design an entirely new airport from scratch,” said Grant Brooker, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners.
A megaproject that is accessible and intuitive
The Central Communication Port or CPK is a Polish government megaproject for a new airport that has ambitions to serve 34 million passengers a year and grow to handle a 100 million. It will be linked to a new nationwide high-speed rail network. As such it has the potential to become a labyrinthine maze, but the team behind the design has worked to avoid that.
The aim is to create “accessible, intuitive, and passenger-friendly infrastructure that ensures comfort, short transfer times, and a positive travel experience. Our design is focused on passengers and their needs,” Brooker added. That vision has led to “optimisations include shortening the piers by approximately 100 metres to reduce walking distances for passengers, facilitate transfers, and decrease the volume of the building,” press materials say.
Levels and piers
Passenger services will be distributed across three levels, with Schengen and non-Schengen zone arrivals and departures on separate floors. Images released by the CPK consortium reveal a plaza and a three-story atrium, that will act as an arrival hall and shared transfer and retail area.
The main building will be connected to six piers, allowing passengers to reach the aircraft directly and will be capable of handling approximately 11,000 passengers per hour when it initially opens. Launch day will offer 140 check-in and baggage drop counters inside, with space reserved for the installation of an additional check-in island, increasing the number of counters to 170.
Fewer skylights, warmer materials, stronger growth
Innovations since the concept stage include a reduction in skylights and the use of warmer materials in roof vaults, enhancing comfort, acoustics and aesthetics, according to a CPK press release. The overhanging terminal roof has also been replaced with a column-supported arcade, which provides better weather protection and reduces steel elements – therefore reducing costs.
The project is projected to require over €30 billion but has been described by Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak as “crucial for Poland.” Echoing that, Maciej Lasek,Government Commissioner for the CPK consortium said, it is an investment that “will drive Poland’s economic growth and strengthen the market position of the national carrier, LOT Polish Airlines.”
The designs will now undergo further scrutiny and location and building permits are yet to come.
