Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has awarded the design contract to Arup Consulting Engineers, the local division of international engineering firm Ove Arup, in conjunction with architects Pascall and Watson, a London-based firm.
Based upon industry norms, the contract would be worth up to 10% of the estimated €200m cost of the new terminal, which the DAA plans to have operational in 2009.
Ten separate bids were considered for the contract for the new terminal, which is expected to increase the airport’s capacity from the current 18m passengers a year to 30m on completion in 2010.
The government gave the go-ahead for the second terminal last May after a protracted political debate. The 538,000 sq ft building will be built to the south of the current terminal and is at the heart of the DAA’s €1.2 billion, 10-year redevelopment of the airport complex.
The first inkling that the long-awaited terminal would eventually see the light of day came earlier this month with the appointment of Davis Langdon PKS, a leading Dublin-based quantity surveying firm, to act as cost consultants during the construction phase.
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The engineering and design consortium is currently engaged in building Terminal Five, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Among other projects, Pascall and Watson has also been involved in redesigning Gatwick and Birmingham airports. DAA has a stake in the Birmingham airport.
The company’s architects are also responsible for the futuristic railway station at the proposed new Wembley Stadium.
Arup Consulting Engineers is one of the largest engineering practices in Ireland, employing about 380 staff in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Its eclectic list of projects includes Trim Castle, the Guinness Storehouse, the UCD restaurant, the East Stand in Lansdowne Road, Blanchardstown town centre and the Civic Offices in Dublin.
The decision to award the contract to the consortium is believed to have been taken before Christmas.
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The DAA declined to comment.
The airport authority is currently considering ways of meeting the cost of building the terminal, the centre-piece of a €1.2 billion, 10-year development plan. The airport regulator Bill Prasifka rejected a DAA application for a 50% increase in landing charges.
The authority is continuing to build the Pier D extension to the existing terminal.