Arup’s broad scope of work for Terminal 5 demonstrates the variety and depth of skills that the firm can apply to a single project. Beyond masterplanning and site work, Arup also provided engineering, mechanical, electrical and other interior systems, as well as communications and IT systems, building acoustics, security, code compliance and commissioning.
Code compliance and commissioning are integral to a facility opening on time and without incident and functioning as designed. It involves testing various building systems and double-checking that construction and components conform to code. Some of the commissioning work particular to new terminals includes extensive testing of baggage handling equipment; check-in, security, communications and PA systems and passenger gangways.
Increasingly, the commissioning work involves a full-scale dress rehearsal. Arup led such an event at Terminal 5 in August, when about 1,000 of JetBlue’s frequent flier customers were invited to participate in a day-long programme to put the terminal through its paces.
Divided into four groups, the “passengers” went through the departure process of checking in, navigating through security and continuing to their gates. Once there, they reversed course, proceeding to baggage claim as arriving passengers to collect their belongings – JetBlue totes distributed for the trial.