Midfield Development Breaks Ground

The Midfield area is the last piece of land on the airside for large-scale development on the airport island. It is located to the west of Terminal 1 and between the two existing runways. To maximise its usage, AAHK has worked closely with experts and stakeholders to enhance and finalise the design details of the project since the project was unveiled earlier this year. These include expanding the size of the Midfield Concourse and its adjacent apron area, as well as incorporating a wide range of green initiatives, such as installation of one of the largest arrays of rooftop solar panels in Hong Kong.

As a result, the phase 1 Midfield project now includes the construction of a five-level Midfield Concourse with total floor area of 78,000 sq m and over 35 green features; 20 aircraft parking stands; an Automated People Mover (APM) extending from Terminal 1; a cross-field taxiway; and other supporting facilities.

The works are expected to cost HK$9 billion and create 2,000 jobs during construction. When completed, the airport will have an additional handling capacity of 10 million passengers per annum.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said, "Today we witness the kicking off of the construction works of the first phase of the midfield expansion development. With the completion of the expansion in 2015, we will be able to handle 10 million more passengers per year and provide more parking stands for both passengers and cargo operation. This is an important addition to the infrastructure inventory of the Hong Kong International Airport. Having regard to the increase in the air traffic demand, the midfield expansion project will be developed in phases to increase the airport's handling capacity to about 70 million passengers and six million tonnes of cargo, which is expected to cope with air traffic demand by 2020."

Ms Cheng said while projects and plans are well in place to take care of needs up to 2020, Hong Kong needs to take forward long term plans to meet future needs. Referring to a comprehensive three-month public consultation exercise conducted by the Airport Authority to collate public views on two strategic development options set out in the Master Plan 2030, the Secretary said, "We look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Authority on the way forward soon. We will study the recommendation carefully with a view to deciding as soon as we can on the next stage of work."

AAHK's Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung Kin-tung said, "While the phase 1 project development is to help HKIA cope with the increasing passenger traffic and needs for parking stands in the medium term, our efforts to pave the way for our long-term development continue. We recently completed the three-month public consultation on the airport's Master Plan 2030, and we remain on course to submit our recommendations to the Government before the end of this month."

AAHK's Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui Hon-chung added that the Midfield development is not only a milestone project to enhance the airport's handling capacity, but also an example of AAHK's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable growth. "The Midfield Concourse is designed to be highly environmentally friendly and aspires to be one of the first BEAM Plus Gold Standard certified buildings in Hong Kong. Its over 35 green initiatives cover various aspects ranging from the building's site, materials, energy and water use to construction methods. We hope that through our continuing efforts, the airport will grow with Hong Kong in a sustainable way."

BEAM Plus is a comprehensive assessment scheme to certify the environmental performance of buildings.

The design of the Midfield Concourse adopts a multi-pronged strategy to achieve environmental protection. On the energy saving front, over 1,200 sq m of rooftop solar panels will be installed to harness renewable energy. Over 80% of the Concourse's lighting will be LED lights, and high-performance glazing panels, solar shading and north-facing skylights will be used to maximise natural light and reduce solar heat gain.

Meanwhile, to reuse and recycle wherever possible is one of AAHK's core green values. During the Midfield Concourse construction, 60% of the waste produced will be recycled. When in operation, the Concourse will use recycled grey water, condensate water and rain water for the water-cooled chillers used in the air conditioning system. In addition, the APM system connecting Terminal 1 to the Concourse will use the energy generated from braking to support its operation.

These initiatives are expected to achieve energy saving of over 20% compared to the baseline established by the Building Energy Council, contributing to HKIA's goal of being not only one of the finest, but also the greenest, airports in the world.

(from left to right) AAHK Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung Kin-tung, Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng and AAHK Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui Hon-chung officiate at the groundbreaking ceremony of HKIA Midfield development.