Airways New Zealand’s new control tower at Christchurch Airport.

It’s being touted as Christchurch’s next icon – Airways New Zealand’s new control tower at Christchurch Airport – which is beginning to rise above the car park and will soon preside over some of the very best views of the city and surrounds.

Airways Project Manager, John Pringle, said the 45-metre, $6 million tower echoes Neil Dawson’s iconic Chalice sculpture in Cathedral Square. “It was quite a geometrical challenge to produce the chalice shape, starting at around 64 square metres at the base and transforming into a control cab with a 12 metre diameter at the top. The tower will provide Airways with a first class facility as well as room for future growth and once completed, will become a significant icon of Christchurch and the International Airport.”

The cab will have 12 30mm-thick glass panels, each weighing around half a tonne and tinted to meet the stringent operating requirements of Airways NZ. The concrete foundations, poured by Hawkins Construction in July, required 38 truckloads to complete the job.

“The entire complex form is a testament to the skill of the consultant team” said Mr Pringle. “This is a challenging site, with limited space, a lot of public movement around the site and weather exposure at the higher levels. We’ve worked closely with Christchurch International Airport to ensure minimal disruption to the travelling public.”
The new tower is not a giant by international standards, but it will be the highest in NZ and has been designed to afford the best possible view of the airfield and surrounding airspace.

The tower is scheduled for completion in August 2009. The existing tower will be demolished as part of the terminal expansion.

ENDS