RC121 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 15
NEW YORK, U.S.
ST. JOHN’S TERMINAL
THE REDEVELOPMENT AT 550 WASHINGTON STREET of the former St. John’s
NORWAY
TOR O. IVERSEN/AVINOR MICHAEL YOUNG
NEW BODØ AIRPORT
THE NEW BODØ AIRPORT project in Northern Norway is a £520M investment
that sets a new benchmark for cost-effective and timely airport delivery.
More than just an infrastructure project, it represents a transformation of
the region—replacing an aging Cold War–era airfield with a modern facility
capable of handling more than 2.3 million passengers annually. With its
collaborative contracting model, sustainable approach to construction,
and innovative use of digital tools, the project has already become a reference point for future airport developments worldwide.
COWI plays a central role in the project as appointed engineering
consultant by Peab/Avinor for the infrastructure works. Their remit spans
everything from the asphalt downwards, including the design and construction of the runway, taxiways, flood defences, drainage, and utilities.
They have overseen challenging works such as land reclamation of
200,000m², installation of unusual steel landing-light structures on piles,
and optimisation of pavement thicknesses. COWI’s expertise has also
helped unlock major savings by proving that locally sourced rock could
meet the project’s needs, avoiding costly imports and cutting emissions.
“We cut carbon on the project by reusing 3.5M m³ of on-site rock instead
of importing materials, redesigning landing light structures to use fewer piles
and less steel and applying GPS-guided excavation to avoid unnecessary
work,” said Jesper Asferg, Executive Business Development Director at COWI.
“These measures lowered transport, material use, and emissions, showing
that smarter design can deliver real value.”
Working in close partnership under the contract with Peab, the project
has fostered a culture of shared risk and reward, with advanced tools such
as dynamic positioning systems and Power BI dashboards helping to reduce
waste, improve accuracy, and meet demanding milestones. This spirit of
collaboration highlights how working together can deliver not just technical
achievements, but lasting benefits for the wider community.
RENEWCANADA.NET
Terminal, constructed in the 1930s, resulted in a new, high-performance
health and wellness commercial office building, and is now the home of
Google’s New York City headquarters. Its structure features an innovative
first-of-its-kind application of precast segmental bridge design technique.
The 1.3 million square-foot building was designed as a single-tenant leased office building clad in curtain wall. A nine-level addition
was constructed on top of the existing renovated three-story podium, for
a total of 12 stories plus a penthouse plant and service space. The structure is a first-of-its-kind application of precast segmental bridge technology
to vertical core construction in buildings.
Entuitive, responsible for structural engineering, special inspections,
as well as acting as the temporary works peer review consultant, was
recently honoured with an award from the Structural Engineers Association of New York for the project.
The application of bridge design principles proved instrumental in
facilitating a 10-floor extension to the existing building. Incorporating a
post-tensioned core not only expedited the construction process but also
enabled simultaneous restoration work on the podium while new construction advanced. The utilization of built-up plate girders, connected to
the core, serve to support transfer floors and cantilevers, thereby creating
expansive open green spaces within the structure.
From the level of efficiency and utilization of precast concrete in a former rail terminal (effectively quadrupling the building’s height from three to
12 storeys), all while preserving a nearly 100-year-old structure to bring it
through future centuries, St. John’s Terminal serves to inspire the design of
future tall buildings (both new and old).
The building’s redevelopment created a new, high-performance workplace designed as a single tenant leased office building clad in curtain
wall. The building achieved LEED v4 Platinum certification for its core and
shell development. And the construction was completed in February 2024.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 – RENEW CANADA 15
