Its a new front door that welcomes the world. Central Hall, the third phase of a $265 million Air Terminal Redevelopment (ATR) at Edmonton International Airport opened to the public in November, on time and on budget.

Sprawling over 17,000 square metres and reaching 18 metres upwards, the $96-million Central Hall was completed during the last two years while airport operations were maintained and with minimal disruptions. The new crown in the jewel replaces the existing main terminal as the focal point at Edmonton International and connects the original 40-year-old terminal building with the southeast terminal expansion, completed three years ago.

The latest phase, along with the two earlier ones, was designed by a consortium of architects operating under the name EIA3 (Edmonton International Airport Associated Architects) as a joint venture. The consortium was comprised of Stantec Inc., formerly Architectura Planning Architecture Interiors, Inc. (Design Architects), Barr Ryder Architects & Planners (Managing Architects) and Wood O'Neill O'Neill Architects, Ltd. (Production Architects).

The challenge facing EIA3 was to expand the capacity while enhancing the passenger experience and level of service while meeting the operational needs of the airlines, security and other functions. The project has been a real model of teamwork between the client, the design team and the general contractor, notes Mike Carter, ATR Program Manager for DMJM Aviation, representing the owner, Edmonton Airports. We had to make changes to the design as we went along to accommodate security requirements in the wake of September 11th, 2001, and to meet changes in the airline industry.

The original terminal building was constructed in the early 1960s to accommodate 2.5 million people annually, but long ago outgrew that capacity. It was built during a time airports werent the most welcoming of places, with bland, dank and cavernous hallways that seemed to go nowhere and no visual connection to the planes or their comings and goings.

I remember as a boy climbing up stairs to peer out from a sort of windows walk cubicle to the tarmac below. Even as a young fellow, I knew that was the real show, and it seemed odd that all this activity was cloistered from the view of the masses. I wanted to be able to wave goodbye to aunts and uncles as they headed out to their planes, but in the old airport, one never could.

Central Hall offers not only a more secure facility but also one that, paradoxically, is more open and welcoming. It comes just in time, given the growth the Edmonton area is experiencing.

Now Edmonton International is the fifth business airport in Canada and, with yearly passenger flow nearing four million, there has been significant congestion in hold rooms, security clearance areas and airline ticket counters. Current aircraft volumes had also outgrown apron facilities (the aircraft manoeuvring and parking space) and aircraft bridges.

The new Central Hall contains a viewing mezzanine and departures and arrivals levels under a voluminous space which, at its maximum, reaches 18 metres vertical and provides dramatic views both air side and ground side. The extensive use of glazing, which allows generous natural light and superb visibility, make it easier for passengers to find their way and rendering a more pleasant work environment for facility personnel and airlines staff.

Passengers will more easily orient themselves as a result of the clear and logical flow, says David Ryder, principal of Barr Ryder Architects & Planners. The ability to have this new centre of gravity will allow this to become the place that people will say: Meet me at ...

The exterior design takes its cue from the drama of the sky and landscape with extensive use of glass curtain wall, aluminum mullions and warm brick colour, compatible with the existing brick and the tinted (white) concrete of the parkade structure, built in the first phase of the ATR. The interior design connects to the region by features that include a ceiling treatment inspired by the North Saskatchewan River, a colour palate which evokes wheatfields and grasslands and materials including wood, tile floors and Tyndall stone detailing.

The idea was to make the tactile finishes and architectural features speak to the connection between the building and its location, explains Dermot ONeill, principal, ONeill ONeill Procinsky Architects Ltd. Opening it up and replacing the dark, cavernous corridors of the old terminal building with a bright, expansive Central Hall, helps bring the outside in and enhance the feeling of drama.

The ambience of the Jasper Park Lodge provided the inspiration for the interior, the main restaurant and in the concept for a central gas fireplace on air side which offers passengers a demarcation point and a place to meet and relax after going through security. Carpeting in the holdrooms takes its inspiration from a wheatfield colour palate using the patchwork quilt of fields and river as the source of the motif. Walls are painted in neutral colours, with laminate provided to protect surfaces that could be damaged by baggage carts and hemlock wood cladding is used in prominent locations to provide richness and warmth.

Central Hall includes about 12,000 square feet of additional news, gift and specialty concessions. Other key ingredients include an attractive Meet and Greet area for arriving passengers, enhanced food service and shopping options, a themed public observation area with views of runways and departure concourse and memorable art features. The Central Hall also contains a centralized Commuter Concourse to facilitate regional flights, vastly improving passenger convenience.

Despite doubling the overall size of the building, the finished complex uses only about 10 per cent more energy. Such remarkable efficiency is achieved in part by using a new 1.9 million litre stratified chilled water storage tank, which allows up to 5,000 ton-hours of cooling load to be deferred to off peak hours. The innovative solution received the Consulting Engineers of Alberta Technology and Innovation Award and Environmental Award.

But the Central Hall and new southeast terminal expansion, stunning as they are, arent the final act. The next stage of the ATR has been approved by Edmonton Airports and will include upgrades and renovations to the original building, helping the old fit better with the new. When its all done, the revitalized Edmonton International Airport will be able to handle 5.7 million passengers good enough to meet the demand for the next 15 years.

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