The Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, named after the famous Australian aviatrix, is a new greenfield airport in Sydney’s new western Parkland City region. Together with the original Harbour City on the coast and the River City around Paramatta, the Parkland City will become Sydney’s third urban hub, stimulating the city’s western expansion in the decades to come. The Western Sydney International Airport will be a fundamental catalyst for this growth, with the city’s greater metropolitan area set to reach 9 million by 2040.
The new Western Sydney International Airport will be built in four stages of expansion, beginning with the initial stage of 10 million annual passengers (MAP) by 2026, with further increments up to 82 MAP, making it the largest international gateway to Australia by 2060. As Master Architect, ZHA/COX will provide an overarching design for the entire airport precinct including design guidelines for future expansion. At the same time, the team will prepare the design documents for the execution of the first phase of the new Terminal Precinct.
The ZHA/COX design incorporates sustainable design principles across the building’s architecture as well as its construction principles. The project integrates the extensive use of daylight, natural ventilation and water recycling to create a modular, energy-efficient design. The building is also sensitive to its local context, reflecting its natural landscape and the cultural heritage of its indigenous inhabitants.