CREATING A “SENSE OF PLACE” AT YLW BY TRACEY FREDRICKSON
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s Kelowna International Airport moves closer to the milestone of 1.6 million passengers expected by 2016, so too does the Drive to 1.6 Million Passengers airport development program. By the time four phases of con- struction are complete, YLW will have a new and expanded international arrivals facility, a major upgrade to the outbound baggage facility, a new domestic arrivals
area and an expanded departures area. The airport will double in size and have a whole new look and feel.
Phase I of construction starts this year and includes the expansion of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Primary Inspection Line (PIL) area, the first stage in expanding the international arrivals hall. Once the PIL is completed in 2012, the area will accommodate up to 250 pas- sengers per hour compared to the 135 passengers that can be handled currently, greatly relieving congestion in this area. Passengers will see a CBSA agent prior to picking up their bags (currently passengers collect their bags prior to going through Customs) resulting in a more efficient flow of passenger traffic and improved customer service. They will then be either cleared to leave or directed to a second- ary inspection area.
US bound passengers will see the addition of two boarding podiums at the north end of the Departures room to improve the customer service this year. The podi- ums will be used for passengers board- ing flights to the United States who are required to be separated from domestic passengers for security purposes, and any secondary searches required will be con- ducted at the gate podium location.
During phase two in 2012/13, the out- bound baggage handling facility will be expanded to increase processing capac- ity to support increased flight activity. addition, the new structure will provide
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“drive through” capability for baggage tugs and carts, improving efficiency by elimi- nating the need for baggage carts to be manoeuvred by hand.
On completion of phase three in 2015, the airport will have a new domestic arrivals area separate from the existing combined international and domestic arrivals area, and an expanded departures area. “By that time, the changing look and feel of the airport will be quite notice- able,” says Airport Development Manager Henry Castorf. “Passengers will arrive in a much more spacious environment with expanded hold room facilities, two new baggage claim carousels and a dedicated passenger greeting area.” Phase four will include a new international claim belt at the north end of the airport which will complete the international arrivals facility.
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A strategic, phased approach to develop- ment allows construction to progress while the airport remains operational. A phased approach also provides flexibil- ity in scheduling – work can be acceler- ated or slowed depending on changing consumer travel patterns, economic factors or new industry regulations. In the course of the airport’s develop- ment, it is working closely with inter- national architectural/engineering firm Dialog. The firm takes an integrated approach to design that considers each of a building’s major components and sys- tems, resulting in “a building that is better designed and better performing – more efficient, cost-effective, innovative and
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