Prater wins largest aviation project to date at London City

Leading building envelope specialist, Prater, has been appointed to deliver the full envelope package at London City Airport.

The extensive scope of works includes a roofing package (which includes standing seam and inverted roofing), anodised expanded mesh rainscreen, composite cladding, soffits, roof safety systems, structurally glazed curtain walling and blast enhanced facades.

Having delivered projects for a number of high profile airports nationwide, this will be the largest aviation project Prater has ever worked on.

As part of the redevelopment of London City Airport, Prater will deliver the complete envelope package for the East and West Terminal extension, East and West Energy centres and new Eastern Pier, as well as the refurbishment of the existing terminal building.

The redevelopment of London City Airport will quadruple its size to increase passenger capacity and offer more destinations to customers.

It is predicted the expansion will allow the airport to welcome an impressive 6.5 million passengers per year by 2025 – up from the 4.3 million passenger capacity handled in 2015.

To accommodate this increased number, the updates will see eight new aircraft stands, a full length parallel taxiway and a new traffic control tower being introduced, as well as an extension to the existing East and West terminals.

Patrick Flannelly, Pre-Contracts Manager at Prater, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to work on such an extensive and high-profile project.

“Tasked with delivering the complete envelope package at London City Airport, the Prater team was assembled early to make sure that everyone had the knowledge, experience and ability to work in a live airport and marine environment.

“Having completed projects in this sector previously, we are able to demonstrate that we are the right contractor to be engaged.”

The work to London City Airport will be delivered in a live BIM environment – Prater’s dedicated design team worked extensively during the early stages of the tendering process to guarantee the design expectations could be delivered effectively and efficiently.

Patrick continued: “The Prater team has been working closely with Bechtel and the other trades on-site to ensure that the original design intentions of the project – such as the striking gold main entrance to the new terminal and the gold anodised rainscreen finish to the Eastern Pier – are achieved, whilst complying with the performance specification.

“It is key that access and logistics are thoroughly thought through on a project of this scale, to make sure that schedules are adhered to and work can be safely completed within the complex live airport environment.

“Collaboration with London City Airport’s global design team, the supply chain and other trades on-site will be crucial in making this project a success.”

Prater will be working closely with architect Pascall+Watson – who Prater worked alongside previously on both Heathrow and Manchester airport projects – and principal contractor Bechtel.

Prater is due to begin work on-site in August 2019, with project completion expected to be in 2022.