The new airport is part of a major infrastructure project known as the Solidarity Transport Hub (CPK), which is expected to be built between the capital Warsaw and the central city of Łódź to integrate air, rail and road transport services.
The air traffic control tower is poised to become a signature structure at the CPK and is slated to be the tallest of its kind in Poland, with a maximum height of 105 meters, according to Konrad Majszyk, a spokesman for the CPK company.
This significantly dwarfs the current tallest 46-meter tower at Katowice Airport, introduced in 2019.
Majszyk emphasized JSK Architekci’s commendable track record, citing previous projects which include the designs of Terminal 2 at Gdańsk Airport, a terminal at Wrocław Airport, and an ongoing expansion of the western pier of Terminal 1 at Munich Airport.
Noteworthy too is the firm's experience in crafting the designs of major sports stadiums in Warsaw and Wrocław, as well as Nairobi, Doha and elsewhere, Majszyk said.
The operational control room of the CPK tower is planned to be situated approximately 90 meters above the airport plate, offering an expansive view for air traffic controllers. Precise specifications will be determined after visibility analyses in the initial design phase.
JSK Architekci will prepare the tower’s design and also acquire essential approvals and building permits. An artist's impression of the structure is anticipated in the first quarter of 2024, with the contract valued at PLN 15.5 million.
In addition to the tower, the framework agreement with JSK Architekci includes the design of various support structures in proximity to the terminal, such as the airport's operational center, airport services offices, and buildings for rescue and firefighting services, maintenance, and airport management.
The CPK is expected to be a major air, rail and road transport hub, planned to be built 37 km west of Warsaw, and covering an area of about 3,000 hectares.
The first phase of the airport, which includes two parallel runways and infrastructure to handle 40 million passengers, has an ambitious launch date of 2028. It is a state-owned venture, with 100 percent ownership by the Polish government.
According to forecasts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airport could be serving up to 65 million passengers by 2060.
Poland's top 10 busiest airports currently handle some 40 million passengers a year.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP