The reconfiguration of Manchester Airport's existing Terminal 2 completes the second phase of the airport's £1.3bn transformation. The retrofit doubled the size of the 1990s terminal while maintaining live airport operations throughout the construction programme. The work included new floorplates, vertical circulation cores and reconfigured passenger spaces through modifications to the building's lateral stability system.
This major retrofit demonstrates the value of adapting existing infrastructure to meet contemporary requirements. The judges praised the comprehensive assessment of the existing structure, which enabled substantial retention while accommodating new floors, circulation routes and stability interventions. Delivering the works within a live airport environment required careful planning and engineering judgement. The project shows how strategic structural interventions can extend asset life, reduce embodied carbon and support the long-term development of critical transport infrastructure.