The Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, today officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5), a mega terminal which will strengthen Changi Airport’s position as a leading air hub.

Inspired by Singapore’s unique blend of nature and city, T5’s design concept is characterised by a unique collection of overlapping curved roofs with varying heights. The ‘roof leaves’ break the mega terminal building into smaller spaces that are more human scale. Combined with natural light and landscaping at appropriate spaces, the terminal will have the familiar cosy, yet uplifting, feel that Changi is known for.

Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director at Heatherwick Studio said:

“We’re thrilled to be creating Changi’s Terminal 5, not just as an amazing airport terminal, but as an extraordinary collection of public spaces for the city. Inspired by the essence of Singapore, the terminal will be a place of lush greenery and characterful districts that redefines what an airport can be. And instead of building another monolithic transit hub, we’re making a unique place that you’d want to travel to, rather than just travel through—one that heartily welcomes both travellers and the local community.”

T5 will be linked to existing terminals at Changi Airport, so that the airport can operate as a single integrated air hub. It is designed to handle about 50 million passengers annually in its first phase which is expected to open in the mid-2030s.

In addition, T5 will be a Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy building. It will be powered by more clean energy to reduce the carbon footprint of Changi Airport, and be equipped with building management systems that feature innovative and efficient systems design. The terminal’s rooftop solar system, which would be one of the largest in Singapore, can potentially generate enough energy to power up about 20,000 4-room HDB flats for a year.

Mr Yam Kum Weng, Chief Executive Officer, Changi Airport Group, said:

“Our vision is for T5 to be mega yet cosy, a terminal that embraces the Changi DNA – delivering a personalised, stress free and positively surprising airport experience. As a new gateway to Singapore, T5 offers new possibilities and will bring new surprises. It will offer yet another vibrant space for families, friends and the airport community to gather and bond.”

The design of T5 was proposed by a consortium led by KPF, in partnership with Heatherwick Studio and architects61. The design work for T5 was paused in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022. Incorporating lessons learnt from the global pandemic, T5 will have the flexibility to operate as smaller sub-terminals when needed to facilitate the management of high-risk passengers. It will also feature systems such as contactless touchpoints that can help to reduce disease transmission.

Find out more about the project here.