Transforming Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 with BIM technology.

Certainty is everything when delivering a construction project that shapes how millions travel. So, when we were appointed as BIM Information Management lead for Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG) new Terminal 2, we brought together cutting edge BIM technology and multi disciplinary expertise to help realise a £1.3bn vision – creating a terminal designed to transform every step of the passenger journey.

Working alongside global construction consultants, Mace, BakerHicks were closely involved from RIBA Stages 4-6, delivering across multiple areas of both the Terminal 2 refurbishment and construction of a new Pier (Pier 2).

Certainty in design, delivery and accuracy through BIM technology

With the existing terminal built over 30 years ago, the project teams faced an exceptionally complex environment, navigating a web of existing services and structures that needed to be carefully modified, or diverted. The limited information available on the existing infrastructure also posed a health and safety challenge.

The results of multiple point cloud surveys were converted into more precise 3D Revit models for use by the wider design teams. This enabled thorough model reviews and clash detection checks to identify risks both across the project and with existing terminal conditions. Not only reducing site survey times but also delivering a data standard that wouldn’t have been possible through a manual survey alone. 

Using the Revizto integrated BIM collaboration software platform, we quickly created a federated model of the terminal, ensuring the accuracy, integrity and quality of both the design team models and the point cloud survey data we captured. 

Advanced workflows meant we could clearly identify potential problems and develop solutions before we encountered them ‘on the ground’, saving the client significant time, money and potential frustration. 

Streamlining the process to deliver data rich models for handover

Increasing the accuracy and certainty of the information captured helped accelerate the design requirements of the project, whilst preventing existing services from being disrupted within a live airport environment.

Workflows around clash detection, quality assurance reviews, issue management and tracking, enabled our BIM team to accurately lead design and construction teams to potential challenges they may encounter throughout the project.

We also supported MAG in redefining their asset data capture process and delivery plans, integrating all captured data in MAG’s own asset management system (Maximo). The team now benefits from a reliable, data rich model for future use, supported by a custom Power BI dashboard that redefines asset data management, tracking and reporting. By splitting reports to handover zones, it also ensured compliance at each handover to help avoid unnecessary and preventable delays or issues, concentrating resources during critical phases. 

The project continued point cloud scanning through to handover, with the team carrying out detailed reviews and developing accuracy codes during the as-builts to check and validate the accuracy of the final models. BakerHicks reported on model accuracy throughout the project, using the Revizto issue tracker to check, validate and raise issues. Once complete, we will handover accurate data rich models which will provide assurances far beyond the project lifecycle.

Collaboration was a key theme throughout the project, leveraging BIM technology to transform the passenger experience and deliver a new terminal that has the capacity to accommodate increased footfall, positioning Manchester Airport as a leading transport hub.