The New Zealand-based architecture firm, Studio Pacific Architecture has designed Air New Zealand’s new 10,000 square meter (107,639 sq. ft.) hangar at its engineering base in Mangare, Auckland.
The hangar will be the largest single-span timber arch aircraft hangar in the world and will be one and a half times the size of Air New Zealand’s largest existing hangar. It will be able to house wide-body aircraft such as a Boeing 777-300 or 787-9, and two narrow-bodied aircraft such as an A320 or A321neo, at the same time, according to the architecture firm.
Hangar 4 has been designed to be a 5-6 Green-Star building, certified by the NZGBC (New Zealand Green Building Council). The rating system is internationally recognized for the design, construction, and operation of buildings.
According to Architecture Now, "the laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid timber arch, designed in association with structural engineer Alistair Cattanach of Dunning Thornton, spans 98 meters (321 feet) and has a low total structure mass, making it considerably easier and more efficient to put together on-site than a similarly sized steel structure would be."
Kulwinder Panesar, Senior Project Manager at Air New Zealand told Architectural Now, “With the use of modern engineered timber available today, the hangar has the ability to become a world-leading example of innovation and creativity. As timber is a net carbon sink, building a timber hangar structure instead of a steel structure results in savings of close to 600 tons of CO² equivalent, which equates to approximately 2300 hours of flight time.”
Timber design awards
Studio Pacific was also named a winner in the 2023 NZ Timber Design Awards for its design of the Nelson Airport Terminal in Nelson, New Zealand.
In a joint submission by Studio Pacific Architecture, Dunning Thornton Consultants, and Gibbons Naylor, Nelson Airport Terminal was named the winner of the Innovation Timber Engineering category. The category showcases engineering and construction innovation in maximizing the ability to utilize timber in different ways and push forward with exciting and different solutions. The terminal was also awarded Highly Commended for the Supreme Award, with judges recognizing “the seamless fusion of architecture, engineering, and timber, [which] represents a global benchmark for timber architecture and engineering innovation.”
According to one of the judges, "Nelson Airport stands as a remarkable testament to the seamless fusion of architecture, engineering, and timber, serving as a compelling showcase for both New Zealand and the world. This awe-inspiring structure not only embodies the perfect harmony of these elements but also represents a global benchmark for timber architecture and engineering innovation. As visitors step inside, they are greeted by its inviting warmth and captivated by its breathtaking beauty, making it an iconic destination for travelers worldwide."