Heathrow’s future takes wing at T5

T5 making of The economic heart of T5 Heathrow's transformation History of the airport

BAA to inaugurate Heathrow's Terminal 5 on March 27. That will be the culmination by Ferrovial subsidiary BAA of a project that commenced in 1989. The new terminal is a milestone in BAA's plans to transform Heathrow in time for the Olympic Games in London in 2012. T5 is designed to give over 30 million passengers per year a new travel experience within its huge glass walls. Terminal 5's vital statistics are impressive: it is the biggest building in the UK, having cost over 6 billion pounds. Designed by prestigious architect Lord Rogers, the main hall is 40 metres high, 396 long and 176 metres wide. Its single-span 18,500 tonne roof was lifted into position over eleven months, and is held up by 22 steel pillars. The inauguration of T5 is part of BAA's plan for a total make-over of Heathrow to banish the current problems of undercapacity. The current facilities, designed for 45 million passengers per year, handle 70 million at present.