OR Tambo Airport is getting a pretty serious facelift.

The revamp is happening in seven phases, the first of which will see the construction of three six-storey office buildings – above podium – with a floor area of 33 000 square metres.

You can see an artist’s rendering of the proposed office buildings below.

According to BusinessTech, construction will begin on the first phase before the end of February, and is expected to reach completion by 2020.

The whole revamp will cost a total of R4,5 billion.

Speaking at a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday (12 February) GM of the airport, Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana, said that the airport plans to target a further 180,000 square metres for a mixed-use development to be located on the northern precinct of the airport.

She added that the mixed-use development will consist of a variety of buildings which are framed in such a way as to form a boulevard at the international departures level, where a variety of retail commercial and ancillary buildings each open onto a vibrant energetic ‘street’ environment serviced by lively restaurants, corner cafes and bars.

The proposed developments will also improve the airport’s connectivity from the Gautrain station, and to existing hotels and facilities via pedestrian-friendly connections to the international terminal building.

As long as those connections don’t work the same as the path you have to hike (stop for supplies, set up a tent) before reaching the luggage terminal when you land at the airport on a domestic flight, this could be a good thing.

Speaking of luggage, they’re also improving the airport’s midfield cargo and midfield passenger terminals to accommodate growing passenger demand and expand the midfield cargo facilities at the airport to accommodate up to two million tonnes of air cargo annually.

Who knows, maybe they’re even hiring baggage handlers who don’t hate everything about their job.

The existing building is also getting a makeover.

Sounds promising, as long as it’s finished at some point during 2020.

[source:businesstech]