Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 was officially opened by Ireland’s Prime Minister, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D. on the 19th November 2010.

The centrepiece of an extensive 5 year investment programme, the Terminal 2 design was led by Pascall+Watson from inception through to completion.

The opening represented the culmination of a comprehensive programme of work which arose from the Capacity Enhancement Study prepared by Pascall+Watson in 2005. Over 100 individual projects, each with a minimum value of €5 million, were undertaken at Dublin Airport, including Pier D (now Pier 1) and the extension to Terminal 1.

The 100,000m² Terminal 2 and Pier E (now Pier 4), which transformed the passenger experience, increased Dublin Airport’s capacity to 32 million passengers per annum, placing it as one of the top 20 European airports for international traffic. The building also set new standards in sustainable terminal design, achieving a 17% reduction in CO² emissions when compared to a statutory compliant design.

“The fact that the design team has created a stunning piece of architecture incorporating great elegance and efficiency within tight budgetary constraints, whilst retaining a central focus on the passengers’ experience is a testament to the skills and application of all involved. The efficient planning allied to the creative use of volume and light has generated spectacular spaces with wonderful views of Dublin and beyond.” – Declan Collier (Chief Executive Officer, DAA)

Externally, the terminal is symbolic and sculptural, suggesting metaphors of flight. Despite its bespoke appearance, the free-flowing, fluid forms of the two main volumes have been created using only standard systems and componentry. Internally, consideration of passenger movement was a fundamental part of the design process ensuring logical and intuitive wayfinding and sequential journeys. The plan layout responded to operational requirements and the constraints of a particularly congested site.

Terminal 2 is providing an iconic gateway to Ireland and has received numerous awards including the CMG Building Design Awards Public Building of the Year (2010) as voted for by the general public.