"The Rock" at Wellington Airport was opened by Prime Minister John Key today. 

The Rock is the second stage of Mainzeal's Wellington Airport International Passenger Terminal upgrade project and  includes an expanded and redesigned international departure lounge building, improved waiting and queuing areas to gates, additional toilets and a new café.

Inspired by the environment around Wellington Airport, the angular forms of the terminal are intended to make a visual link with the rocks around the coast. The reference to local landform and the introduction of fissures and strata become features that have articulated the form, scale, and massing of the design.

A full-sized prototype of a section of the copper clad roof construction was built in a warehouse before work on-site had even commenced. This allowed the project team to review the proposed method of construction from a position of experience – not easy when setting out to build a one of a kind building.

This prototype was also used by the team to demonstrate to building inspectors how the construction was compliant with the relevant sections of the Building Code.

“This is a totally unique building and being part of the team that has put it on the map has been a great adventure which we are very proud of and will never forget.” says, Wellington International Airport CEO, Steven Fitzgerald.