Dublin Airport, Ireland, is to undertake a major facelift of its Terminal 1 under plans that have been lodged with the local Fingal County Council. According to the airport, the core façade and the roof of the terminal are to be replaced with a new, modern, energy-efficient structure that will transform the external appearance of the terminal. The existing concrete fins, which are near the end of their life and need to be replaced, will make way for a combination of glass and solid panels.
The planned works to the façade follow a major upgrade of the Departures and Arrivals areas of Terminal 1 in recent years. New floors and lighting were installed and both areas were reconfigured to introduce more natural light to the building. “Terminal 1 has been at the heart of Dublin Airport since 1972 and has welcomed more than 450 million passengers during 48 years of use,” said Dublin Airport managing director, Vincent Harrison. “These works are part of an overall program to ensure that T1 can continue to successfully serve Ireland for many decades to come,” he added. “While passenger traffic had been hit by the impact of Covid-19, as custodians of Dublin Airport on behalf of the State, we must always take a prudent long-term view in relation to managing the facility. As certain elements of T1 are approaching the end of their life, it makes sense to seek planning permission now for these works, which will be carried out over the coming years.”
As part of the project, planning permission has also been sought to revamp the top two floors of T1, which were originally designed as a multi-story car park, and are currently used for offices, plant rooms and some staff parking. Remedial works will be undertaken on the concrete spiral ramps adjacent to T1, but they will be retained in their current form.
The changes to T1 will generate a significant improvement in the terminal’s energy efficiency, as it will move the upgraded elements of the building from their current BER rating of F to B3. The terminal’s new façade will exceed current energy guidelines by 25%. As part of the planned works, the roof of Terminal 1 will be insulated to a higher standard, considerably reducing heat loss from the building.
