Major redevelopment of Helsinki Airport

The expansion of Terminal 2 in Helsinki Airport is part of Finavia’s billion-euro investment programme aimed at strengthening the airport’s position as a major European hub capable of serving 30 million passengers annually. Ramboll is together with architectural and engineering companies responsible for the redevelopment.

The design and construction programmes are unique in terms of size and complexity. In addition to Ramboll, the consortium consists of the national airport operator Finavia, the construction company SRV, ALA Architects and HPK Architects. 

Phase 1 of the redevelopment are the extensions for the long-haul flights which will be completed by 2019. The focus of the work will then shift to Terminal 2, where a new entrance area plus arrival and departure halls will be established. Airport parking and public transport connections will also be improved. 

“The aim of this large investment by Finavia is to build an airport for the future. Such a large and complex project demands that the partners in the consortium work closely together. So far, the consortium has proven to be an effective and flexible way to proceed. The goal is to deliver an upgraded airport that will give the tens of millions of passengers that pass through Helsinki Airport every year a world-class experience”, says Finavia technical director Henri Hansson.

Ramboll is the main construction engineer and is responsible for heating, water, ventilation, automation and cooling, as well as for electrical, infrastructural, geostructural and traffic planning. Ramboll will do the acoustic design in cooperation with Akukon. The project’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance will be certified according to the BREEAM assessment scheme. 

“We are bringing our multidisciplinary design expertise to the project as part of the consortium. We are putting every effort into creating high-quality plans and ensuring smooth cooperation in the design and construction phases”, says Hannu Nissinen of Ramboll. 

Future proofing the airport

Terminal 2 will have a new section for check-in, security checks, luggage deposit and passenger reception. Once the project is complete, the current departure and arrival halls will be part of the Schengen gate area. 

This will provide the airport with plenty of additional passenger space and more opportunities to develop its service offerings. There will also be a new travel centre linking different modes of transport. 

The new part of Terminal 2 will have a surface area of 40,000 square metres, and the existing arrivals and departure areas that are being upgraded will have an area of 35,000 square metres. 

In accordance with the project schedule, the new parking facility in front of terminal 2 will be completed in 2020. The departure and arrival halls of the new section will be completed in 2021, and the upgrades on the terminal will be completed in 2022. 

Finavia wants to ensure the best possible customer experience throughout the entire construction project, which is projected to last three to four years.

Further information on the project is available on the Finavia website