Halifax Stanfield International Airport Developments

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

It's nice to finally see the airport re-investing and turning into something that time didn't forget. Living in Calgary, I fly in and out a few times a year from YHZ and I can tell you at Christmas that check in area can be a gong show (specially for Air Canada). Plus if the airport is going to market to new airlines (international mainly); it's nice to show a modern updated airport to them, versus ours which for a time seemed neglected.

My only beef with the airport remains the actual departures level. It's still the long corridor with a narrow 'foot path' - it would be nice if the upper level could be extended outward so that a couple moving walkways could be put in for seniors who aren't as mobile as others. But the other improvements on that level (adding more windows to increase the lighting) and the arrivals staircase area from the upper level are great.

I'd also add that over time, I'd like YHZ to take a page from YVR when it comes to airport art and truly having the 'wow factor' when you arrive. For those who haven't flown through YVR (particularly the International Arrivals) it is stunning. The whole experience showcases a lot of native artwork (the totem poles are amazing). Here is one and here is another. Even in the domestic area (which is the oldest part of the airport) has this awesome totem pole, which I love seeing. I'd like to see some partnership with the local native communities here in YHZ to do the same - but over time. Lets focus on the much needed changes and then add these things in over time...

Is that a waterfall running under the stairs in the first pic from YVR? If so, NICE!!

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by scooby074

Yep still got them. *shudder*

Well at least they are less stereotypical then the red cowboy hats at YYC (Calgary).

[someone123]

With YHZ I think they deliberately followed the cheaper path of doing piecemeal additions rather than building an enormously expensive new terminal. Winnipeg's airport is about as busy as YHZ and the new terminal there cost $600M. I'm not sure if this has translated into cost savings for Halifax flights (cheaper landing fees etc. -- I am sceptical that would happen since they have such a monopoly) but it is a reasonable plan in principle.

YVR is a good airport. It is not overly flashy but it works well and has a few interesting elements like the native art. Most importantly, the Canada Line also goes right to the terminal. I'd rather see public money go into stuff like the Canada Line than overly elaborate airport terminal architecture.

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Well at least they are less stereotypical then the red cowboy hats at YYC (Calgary).

True.

But they are really showing their age. Many broken parts. Now they just look trashy.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by pblaauw

Does YHZ still have those silly models of the harbour bridges on the luggage carousels? Anything would be better than that.

Except sheet metal lighthouses.

Or giant fiddles.

[Keith P.]

This disappoints me because they still are retaining the low ceilings over the actual counter/queuing areas, which always makes that space look cramped and crowded.

[connect2source]

Yes, those are waterfalls beside the escalators leading to immigration and customs.

I live in Vancouver and pass through YVR frequently. The sound of the waterfalls is beautiful and you can hear it through most of the queueing area for immigration, it seems to impress everyone, especially those visiting Canada for the first time.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

This disappoints me because they still are retaining the low ceilings over the actual counter/queuing areas, which always makes that space look cramped and crowded.

Isn't there another floor directly above the counters?

In the arrivals area they've similarly built a front atrium area but the luggage carousels are still under a very low ceiling.

I guess all of this could be changed, but it would be expensive.

[ghYHZ]

Originally Posted by q12

Here are some more photos from Stanfields facebook site:

The Front Façade when YHZ opened in 1960.

[q12]

Originally Posted by someone123

Isn't there another floor directly above the counters?

In the arrivals area they've similarly built a front atrium area but the luggage carousels are still under a very low ceiling.

I guess all of this could be changed, but it would be expensive.

Yes, there are offices above the check-in counters for Air Canada and other airlines.

[ghYHZ]

......and a couple of other views of YHZ from the '60s

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ghYHZ

The Front Façade when YHZ opened in 1960.

This would have been quite an impressive building back in 1960. It would have opened shortly after the MacDonald Bridge in 1958. I think that it must have been an exciting period for residents of the Halifax area (and Nova Scotia in general).

I remember the 1970's as an exciting period in the Halifax area; additions to Scotia Square were still being made, several other downtown highrise towers were built, the Metro Centre was built, Fenwick Tower was built... It seems as though that period of development is returning, hopefully it will continue for many years.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This would have been quite an impressive building back in 1960. It would have opened shortly after the MacDonald Bridge in 1958. I think that it must have been an exciting period for residents of the Halifax area (and Nova Scotia in general).

During this period, Halifax was one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. In 1941 the metropolitan area had a population of 122,656 and by 1961 it had almost doubled in size to 225,723. The scale of the city completely changed during those years.

[halifaxboyns]

Yes that is a waterfall behind the native "medallion" as I call it, it's quite impressive. I recently flew the Abbotsford and to get there I ended up going through Edmonton and got to see the new extension at YEG. It's quite impressive and one thing I was impressed with was their use of natural sounds to make people relax. The atrium had lots of trees and sunlight and if you listened carefully, birds chirping. There were no birds, but the noises were played.

I remember watching a documentary on Gatwick Airport (A bbc series you can find on your tube) and this executive with BA was talking to a frequent traveller. He mentioned that airports were doing the natural sounds and that it does calm people down; the other thing they do is smells. Fresh cut grass or other 'soothing' smells, help relax you and make you feel good. Don't know how YHZ would do it; but I'm sure it would be interesting.

The drop ceiling is a bit sad, but there is a second level of offices above the ticket counters for the airlines. I can't tell from the scale of the drawings but I would guess that you would find the bulk of the start of the lines and the kiosks in the 2 storey area and the main lines would be in the lower area.

One thing I recently noticed looking at photos of Vancouver and Victoria's airport is how similar they are with YHZ. The 'coastal' themes seem to be quite common - wooden panels or accents, lots of windows. The only thing we don't seem to have is exposed steel, which is more common in the International Terminal at YVR. Although Victoria's airport also has the same kind of ticket area - 2 storey at the kiosks and 1 storey at the check in counter. You can partially see it in this news clip. But if you don't pay attention to the story and focus on the images - the look of the ticket counters/airport is very similar. I'm thinking of going to Victoria in September for my birthday so I will be taking some photos. The other thing I would hope for as YHZ grows is that they look at YVR and start thinking about the retail component. Vancouver and Toronto have gotten the importance, YHZ not so much...

[TransitSupporter]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

He mentioned that airports were doing the natural sounds and that it does calm people down; the other thing they do is smells. Fresh cut grass or other 'soothing' smells, help relax you and make you feel good. Don't know how YHZ would do it; but I'm sure it would be interesting.

It's funny you mention YEG and grass. I haven't seen it myself in real, but they apparently have a large wall covered in grass in their new terminal.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by TransitSupporter

It's funny you mention YEG and grass. I haven't seen it myself in real, but they apparently have a large wall covered in grass in their new terminal.

Yes they have a 'living wall' (that's the architecture term). The Farmers Market had a form of it, but as I understand it they have since removed it. I think it wasn't properly thought out and installed correctly. But the one in Edmonton looks fantastic.

The core shopping centre here in Calgary has a couple on the 3rd or 4th level where the food court is.

[Peter Spurway]

Folks,
As background, responsibility for the operation, management and development of Halifax Stanfield International Airport was transferred from the Federal Government to Halifax International Airport Authority on February 1, 2000.

Here is a chronology of key upgrades since that transfer:
December 2001 – New international arrivals area
December 2002 – New domestic arrivals area
November 2003 – Main lobby retail expansion and public observation area open
January 2006 – Expansion of the south end departures area is complete
October 2006 – The U.S. preclearance check-in and departures areas open
July 2008 – New reconfigured roadway system opens creating separate roads for picking up and dropping off passengers
March 2009 – The 2,300-space airport parkade opens
June to October 2009 – Central core of the terminal building rebuilt, including over-road pedway between the parkade and the terminal building, featuring Nova Scotia’s first moving sidewalks; new elevators and escalators in the main lobby; second level walkway with direct access from the parkade to U.S. preclearance check-in area

And, over the past 7 years, the airfield has been completely rebuilt, including an extension of the main runway to 10,500 feet.

The new check-in/baggage system project just getting started will create much more circulation space in that area. At the counters themselves, the ceiling is limited by two floors of offices above. If it provides some consolation, the time spent in the lower ceiling area should be much shorter with the new check-in systems, plus the two-story high front glass wall will provide a great deal of natural light.

As to artwork, it's an area we've been working on. We're currently displaying 12 works from NSCAD grads. And before too long we will be announcing a major work, to be created live in the terminal over several days, by one of NS's most renowned native artists.

We appreciate your interest.
Cheers,
Peter Spurway
HIAA

[fenwick16]

It is great to see your post on here Peter Spurway. The Halifax Airport has come a long way since 2000.

[pblaauw]

*deleted*

[rkannegi]

I haven't commented much on Halifax Stanfield International Airport, but overall, I like they way it progressed since I first passed through it in 2002, and I look forward to seeing what the overhauled departures area will be like. I was quite impressed by the garden-like atmosphere of the International Arrivals area the one time I passed through there (coming back from London Heathrow in April 2011). To me, it speaks of Canada's love for gardens, which I saw quite a bit more of during a tour of Canadian monuments/cemetaries in in Normandy, France around highway N13 and the city of Caen. Some of those Canadian sites in France even resembled small bits of Rivendell from Lord of the Rings, which you see even more of scattered throughout the City of Ottawa (Canadian Gothic gardens).

One thing I have to ask about to the HIAA is about Bell Boulevard. I have heard talk of "a new one-way road for Bell Boulevard". Is this the separated roadway that was already implemented to seprate taxis and buses from general vehicles at the Arrivals doors, or is this something else?

One thing that I have noted recently is that Bell Boulevard is getting quite busy when big flights are coming and going, which is a very good sign of increased business at the airport, which brings up the next point, about twinning.

Is there a plan to have Bell Boulevard twinned into a 4-lane divided road (2 lanes in each direction) west of the terminal's parking lots? If there is, I would suggest a median wide enough to allow an 18-wheeler to do a U-turn, with U-turn lanes set up to mitigate the need to make a left turn or a straight cross movement from a driveway or a sideroad that is attached to Bell Boulevard (and maybe allow for the elimination of those flashing yellow traffic lights just west of the terminal). Such a median could be used an ultimate right-of-way reserve for HOV/taxi lanes and/or LRT in the more distant future when the airport gets much busier than it is now.

The road I suggest for Bell Boulevard would be similar to the "Michigan Boulevard" shown in the following link:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=michigan+bo...tbzWVnggdh-YXmTQYA&cbp=12,304.17,,0,5.22

I'm glad to see they got the new ALT hotel up.

Cheers,

Richard Kannegiesser

Originally Posted by Peter Spurway

Folks,
As background, responsibility for the operation, management and development of Halifax Stanfield International Airport was transferred from the Federal Government to Halifax International Airport Authority on February 1, 2000.

Here is a chronology of key upgrades since that transfer:
December 2001 – New international arrivals area
December 2002 – New domestic arrivals area
November 2003 – Main lobby retail expansion and public observation area open
January 2006 – Expansion of the south end departures area is complete
October 2006 – The U.S. preclearance check-in and departures areas open
July 2008 – New reconfigured roadway system opens creating separate roads for picking up and dropping off passengers
March 2009 – The 2,300-space airport parkade opens
June to October 2009 – Central core of the terminal building rebuilt, including over-road pedway between the parkade and the terminal building, featuring Nova Scotia’s first moving sidewalks; new elevators and escalators in the main lobby; second level walkway with direct access from the parkade to U.S. preclearance check-in area

And, over the past 7 years, the airfield has been completely rebuilt, including an extension of the main runway to 10,500 feet.

The new check-in/baggage system project just getting started will create much more circulation space in that area. At the counters themselves, the ceiling is limited by two floors of offices above. If it provides some consolation, the time spent in the lower ceiling area should be much shorter with the new check-in systems, plus the two-story high front glass wall will provide a great deal of natural light.

As to artwork, it's an area we've been working on. We're currently displaying 12 works from NSCAD grads. And before too long we will be announcing a major work, to be created live in the terminal over several days, by one of NS's most renowned native artists.

We appreciate your interest.
Cheers,
Peter Spurway
HIAA