T3 Expansion Copenhagen Airport

Copenhagen/ Denmark

Size/ 65,000 m² new build, 35,000 m² refurbishment
Competition/ 2nd prize in an international competition, 2019
Status/ Design proposal
Client/ Copenhagen Airport
Design & Build Contractor/ MT Højgaard
Engineer/ Sweco
External Collaborators/ Rubow Arkitekter/ Portland Design
Visuals/ Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects/ WAX

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Copenhagen Airport is the largest airport in Scandinavia and the 17th-busiest airport in Europe, serving Denmark’s capital region and the surrounding area. Located just eight kilometres from the city centre on the island of Amager, the airport is used by 30 million passengers annually – a sharp increase over the past ten years that demands an extension of the airport’s third terminal.

The expansion of Terminal 3 will be Copenhagen Airport's largest construction project to date as part of a future development plan to accommodate 40 million travellers.

Our proposal is a 65,000-square-metre new build area and 35,000-square-metre refurbishment that would create larger commercial spaces for passengers, an expanded baggage claim, storage areas, and new office space.

The project concerns the passenger experience, intuitive wayfinding, accessibility, and clear logistics; concepts essential to Nordic architectural traditions.

Due to the project’s large scale, we referenced Copenhagen’s urban landscape and approached the project like a small city, breaking the space down into smaller areas.

We prioritized transparency in the design so that passengers can quickly asses the building’s various functions across different floors.

One of the design’s focal points is sustainability. The addition of green areas and an interior garden will help to create a sense of place, improve the ambience, and provide a calming atmosphere for the passenger journey.

Skylights, voids, and atriums help to increase the amount of daylight into the terminal on every level.

This expansion design also creates a better flow between Gates B and C.

It provides the much-needed extra space for baggage delivery and collection, and greater passenger capacity at passport control for arrivals and departures at Gate C.

The T3 Expansion is our second design for Copenhagen Airport. In 2015 we completed the 6,300-square-metre expansion of Pier C. With three new gates and lounges, the design offered a new interpretation of the existing airport and improved passenger flow and logistics.