Tag Aviation

Farnborough, UK

Project details
Client

TAG (Techniques de Avante garde) Aviation

Architect

3D Reid

Duration

£26 million

Services provided by Buro Happold

Building Services Engineering (MEP), Facade engineering, Fire engineering, Ground engineering, Structural engineering

Our client TAG (Techniques de Avante garde) Aviation aspires to create the most modern airports dedicated to business aviation in Europe while maintaining a sense of discretion and privacy.

TAG Aviation established an architectural competition to create an elegant sculptural solution for an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower, a hangar and terminal building at TAG Aviation Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. Formerly a Ministry of Defence (MOD) airport, Farnborough is home to the world-famous biennial air show.

Challenge

The challenge was to create an elegant user experience at Farnborough coupled with modernising the airport infrastructure and extending use. 3DReid won the competition creating a terminal building design to mimic an aircraft wing in plan and section. Buro Happold was engaged to provide engineering work in constructing the airport buildings, provide overall airport planning and associated project implementation.

The 34 metre high tower, with a visual control room (VCR) at the top, provides a panoramic view of the airfield. Image: Adam Wilson

Solution

The site constraints created the imperative to reconfigure the existing airfield taxiways to create space for three new hangars accompanied by new aircraft parking aprons. Through airfield operational planning, the existing taxiway routes were maintained throughout construction to such a degree that airport end users barely noticed any disruption to their normal level of service.

The apron areas to either side of the realigned taxiway were configured for aircraft specific use up to the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ3) in size. The new hangar building of approximately 12,500m² was divided into three hangar spaces with workshop facilities in each hangar. Two-storey office accommodation and plant spaces were incorporated into the areas between hangars. The capability of the hangars to service aircraft has been enhanced by working with suppliers to develop prototype pre-fitted multi-utility pits that are easy to construct and configured to suit the needs of aircraft operators.

The 34 metre high tower, with a visual control room (VCR) at the top, provides a panoramic view of the airfield, and has two-storey accommodation at the base of the tower that houses all service plant and equipment, approach control room, conference areas and offices for air traffic control tower staff. The area for the air traffic tower is approximately 1000m². An external plant compound in the tower car park houses workshops and external plant.

The hangars, control tower and terminal provide a centre of excellence for world-wide business aviation customers. Image: Adam Wilson

Value

The refurbished airport was opened by HRH The Duke of York in September 2006. The hangars, control tower and terminal provide a centre of excellence for world-wide business aviation customers. The project has won a coveted RIBA Award and was short listed for numerous prestigious prizes.