29 Jun 2026
The new Palmerston North Airport Terminal has reached a major milestone, with the first of the glulam roof members now installed on site.
A major milestone on site
Spanning the terminal’s central spaces, the timber roof structure plays a key role in shaping the experience of arrival and departure. As the structure is lifted into place, the scale and warmth of the building starts to become legible, marking a shift from early works to the construction of the terminal’s main spaces.
Designing and delivering a bespoke timber structure
Each roof member has been designed as a bespoke element and manufactured off site, achieving a high level of accuracy and finish. The refined connections between timber and steel, developed by Studio Pacific and structural engineers Beca, have required close coordination with specialist glulam and steel fabricators.
A key challenge has been resolving the connection points where multiple timber members meet, while accommodating significant seismic forces across the long‑spanning roof. The open terminal below remains free of internal bracing, with the roof structure extending beyond the facade to provide shelter at the north and south edges. Prefabricated timber diagrid elements provide seismic stability, using carefully detailed steel connections.
Careful staging and installation on site
The installation itself has involved careful staging and sequencing on site, led by LT McGuinness. The lightweight yet long-spanning timber elements have demanded precise lifting operations and a tightly managed construction sequence to ensure alignment, safety, and build quality.
With the primary structure now visible, work will progress on completing the external envelope, including roofing, cladding, and glazing, moving the terminal closer to being weathertight and ready for the next phase of construction.
Read more about the terminal here.
Glulam supplier: Techlam
Structural steel fabricators: GH Engineering, MJH Engineering
Image by Avodah Photography.
Image by Avodah Photography.