CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Building type : Transport building, Airport facilities Location : Changi, Singap

ore Changi, Completion : 2001 Owner : Land Transport Authority(LTA) Public Works
Department(PWD) Design consultant : Skidmore Owings & Merril LLP (SOM) Structur
al consultant : Ove Arup & Partners (U.S.A)
BACKGROUND

Airport is operated by the Changi International Group home base of Singapore Air
lines, Singapore Airlines Cargo, SilkAir, Tiger Airways, SilkAir, Jetstar Asia A
irways, Valuair and Jett8 Airlines Cargo. 4340 weekly flights operated by 80 air
lines to 130 cities in 59 countries.[as of APRIL 2008] In 2009
y the airport handled 37, 203, 978 passengers y 21st busiest airport in the worl
d and the 5th busiest in Asia
by passenger traffic y airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world
, handling 1.66 million tons of cargo
HISTORY

Singapore International Airport at Paya Lebar Opened in 1955 with a single runwa
y and a small passenger terminal Singapore s third main civilian airport after S
eletar Airport (main airport from 1930-37) and Kallang 1930Airport (1937-55) (19
37With growth in global aviation transport, the airport was facing congestion pr
oblems inability to cope with the rising traffic became critical by the 1970s: a
nnual passenger numbers rose dramatically from 30,000 in 1955 to 1,700,000 in 19
70 and 4,000,000 in 1975.
HISTORY

In 1972, they decided to keep the airport at Paya Lebar (recommendation of a Bri
tish aviation consultant). Plans were made for the building of a second runway a
nd an extensive redevelopmeny and expansion to the passenger terminal building.
After a year, the plans were reviewed again as the pressure to expand the airpor
t eases due to the 1973 oil crisis. 1975 the government subsequently decided to
build a new airport at the eastern tip of the main island of Changi, at the exis
ting base of Changi Air Base, where the Changi, new airport would be easily expa
ndable through land reclamation. The airport in Paya Lebar was subsequently conv
erted for military use as the Paya Lebar Air Base
CONSTRUCTION

one of the largest single development projects in Singapore s history 19751975-l

and reclamation works involving over 52,000,000 square meters of landfill and se
a fill [led by PSA chairman Howe Yoon Chong] Canals were built to drain water fr
om three rivers, Sungei Tanah Merah Besar, Sungei Ayer Besar, Gemuroh and Sungei
Mata Ikan. Ikan. In total, 8.7 sq km were reclaimed, raising the total site are
a to 13 sq km.
CONSTRUCTION

558 buildings, exhuming around 4,100 graves, a 38.1 cm gun replacement at Changi
and diverting the three streams to the western side of the former Royal Air For
ce runway, which was to be used for the new 4,000 m runway Despite the airport o
pening in 1981, some sections were not completed. The big aircraft hangar was on
ly completed in 1982; 1983 first runway; 1989 Terminal 2, November 1990 opening;
1 June 1991 official opening
THE AIRPORT

The airport has 3 terminals which long haul flights use and a 4th budget termina
l for regional low cost carriers Transit between the main three terminals is mad
e easy by a system of automated monorail trains which speed between terminals ev
ery few minutes. moving walkways are present to speed up journey times even furt
her all areas of all three terminals can be accessed without clearing security o
r immigration [except the boarding gate]. This means that transit passengers can
explore the entire airport with ease and convenience
TERMINAL 1

Configured in a H-shaped layout Hto maximise the number of aerobridges which may
be built, it underwent two major upgrading works over its lifespan. A major ref
urbishment was completed in 1995 at a cost of S$170 million and work to extend t
wo finger piers to add 14 aerobridges at a cost of S$420 million took place from
1996 to 1999. Today, the terminal spans an area of 280,020 m² and can accommodate
a maximum passenger capacity of 21 million passengers a year.
TERMINAL 2

Terminal 2 opened on 22 November 1990 as part of Phase II in the original airpor

t masterplan. masterplan. Deploying a linear configuration parallel to the runwa
ys, it is located adjacent to Terminal 1 towards the south, and heralded the ope
ning of the original skytrain system linking the two terminals via the landside.
Terminal 2 is split into four sections with gate numbers carrying the letter of
their section. The terminal hosts a cinema and a Burger King as well as countle
ss number of shops. The centrepiece is the indoor garden. The terminal also has
an outdoor rooftop garden and a technology section showcasing the world's larges
t plasma screen. The carpets are green and the gate information is displayed on
LCD screens. Security checks must be completed prior to entering the gate gate.
TERMINAL 3

Designed by CPG Corporation, with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designing the roo
f feature and interior design by Woodhead Wilson, Terminal 3 departs from the la
rgely utilitarian architecture in the first two terminals. Like other new airpor
ts in the region, it has a structure mainly made of glass, with big transparent
spaces inside the terminal.
TERMINAL 3

The design of the terminal building utilizes the consistent equatorial sun to li
mit the amount of energy required for lighting and minimizes the cooling load of
the building. A single flat roof spans the major spaces of terminal 3. At 250 m
eters by 300 meters it covers approximately 22 acres. Within the structural fram
ework of the roof a pattern of 2000 skylight openings has been established that
will allow the terminal to be illuminated completely by natural daylight for eig
ht hours a day, regardless of cloud cover.
TERMINAL 3

Daylight is modified by a system of louvers both above and below the roof to mee
t the requirements of the zones of the building. On cloudy days they open to adm
it the maximum amount of illumination. If the electronic sensors detect a cloudl
ess sky the louvers close to limit the amount of light and heat entering the bui
lding.
TERMINAL 3

In landscaped areas the louvers are designed to reflect additional daylight towa
rds the plants. More light is also allowed into the circulation and retail areas
where changing patterns on the floor and walls help animate the space. The louv
ers below the roof are fixed at specific angles that allow some to channel dayli
ght to the floor of the terminal while other reflect light up to the ceiling. By
night, artificial light from easily accessible sources near the floor is reflec
ted off the louvers to provide uniform illumination within the terminal.
TERMINAL 4

The Singapore Ministry of Transport is currently working on a masterplan on Term

inal 4. Aviation experts estimate the terminal will be built in the next 10 to 1
5 years, although the government has not released any further details on the pro
ject.
JETQUAY CIP TERMINAL

Privately run terminal, located next to T2. It was converted from the former VIP
terminal that used to handle foreign dignitaries. It is an elite, dedicated CIP
(Commercially Important People) terminal that can now be used by any passenger
travelling in any class, on any airline, through any of the main terminals (T1,
T2, or T3). JetQuay provides private checkcheck-in, baggage handling, and immigr
ation clearance services.
BUDGET TERMINAL
Opened as a dedicated terminal catering to the budget traveller. The name of the
Budget Terminal was decided as a result of a naming contest open to the public.
The terminal is not included in the numbering scheme even though it is the thir
d terminal to be opened and Terminal 3 is actually the fifth terminal opened at
the airport. A range of duty-free shops and Food and Beverage outlets, and free
internet terminals are available. There is no transfer facility at the Budget Te
rminal. Passengers who need to make transfers need to clear immigration (and get
the appropriate visas at their homecountry if applicable), collect their luggag
e, clear customs, make their way to the main terminal by taking the zero-fare sh
uttle buses and check-in again with the respective airline.
TRANSPORTATION: THE CRYSTAL MOVER

Also called Changi Airport Skytrain

y a people mover system that
connects Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Singapore Changi Airport. y Opened 1990- first
auto-guided 1990autosystem in Asia y Initially consisted of Bombardier CXCX-100s
, jointly built by Westinghouse and Adtranz (acquired by Bombardier). y 2002-wor
k began on a new 2002S$135 million Mitsubishi Crystal MoverMover-based system to
accommodate the planned opening of Terminal 3 and the projected increase in dem
and as the airport expands.
SERVICES
Passenger Services
y Airport has over 70,000 sq m of space
spread between its three main terminals for shopping and eating outlets, with Te
rminal 3 having the largest amount of retail space at 20,000 sq m y 2 different
lounges with 24-hour napping 24areas, showers and spa facilities, to hotel and p
ool amenities y Singapore Yours (created for those in transit for up to 5 hours
who are granted a special pass to leave the airport on one of four city tour opt
ions)
SERVICES

Nature Trail (six themed garden reserves) Comprehensive dining and entertainment
options Wide array of duty-free and eating outlets dutyWithin the international
transit area of the interconnected Terminals 1 and 2: internet and games facili
ties, prayer rooms, showers, spas, gym, swimming pool and a hotel area provided
Various lounge areas, children¶s play areas or television showing news, movie and
sport channels
Aircraft Maintenance
Five
hangars house facilities to provide aircraft maintenance support by SIA Engineer
ing Company and ST Aviation Services Company. This includes a 20,000 m2 (215,300
sq ft) columncolumn-free hangar which was the world's largest when opened in 19
81.
Sources:
http://www.changiairport.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Changi _Air
port http://www.neverflyeconomy.com/changiinternational-airport-guide/ http://en
.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changi_Airport_S kytrain http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.
com/projec t.cfm?id=711 http://www.mhi.co.jp/technology/review/pdf/e4 42/e442010
.pdf