Grimshaw selected to design Heathrow expansion concept

Architect firm Grimshaw has won the tender to provide concept design for the £16bn expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Images of concept designs were revealed alongside a fly-through animation of a proposed new design for the Central Terminal Area, also by Grimshaw.

Above: Images of concept designs were revealed alongside a fly-through animation of a proposed new design for the Central Terminal Area, also by Grimshaw.

The brief is “to bring Heathrow’s vision for expansion to life”, should the airport get permission to build a third runway.

Grimshaw, founded by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, was selected from a shortlist of four that also included Zaha Hadid, HOK and Benoy.

Selection of the architect follows on from the announcement of Arup, CH2M, Mace and Turner & Townsend as programme client partners in March. [See previous report here.]

Heathrow design chief Barry Weekes said: “We look forward to working with Grimshaw to develop their bold ideas so that once the government approves the Heathrow expansion, we can create a world-class sustainable hub airport which delivers for our passengers, our airlines and also helps to integrate Heathrow with our local communities. With the concept architect and programme client partners now in place, we are now ready to begin the process of expansion once the government makes the right choice for the whole of Britain.”

Grimshaw partner Andrew Thomas said: “We believe the expansion of Heathrow is vital to maintaining the UK’s place within the global economy and we look forward to developing a design that provides an authentic and uniquely British sense of place. Our concept will deliver an outstanding passenger experience by building upon the airport’s rich history, while also setting a new standard for the future of aviation.”