Artist’s impression of the new Palmerston North Airport terminal building via Studio Pacific Architecture.
We’re excited to share some fantastic news that highlights the increasing recognition of engineered timber in major infrastructure projects. Techlam has secured a significant contract to supply glulaminated timber (glulam) for the redevelopment of Palmerston North Airport‘s new terminal building.
Working with LT McGuinness Limited as the main contractor, we’ll be providing structural glulam for this ambitious $43 million project. The new terminal, designed by Studio Pacific Architecture with engineering by Beca, represents a major upgrade for this important regional gateway and is scheduled for completion by mid-2027.
“We are delighted to contribute our glulam expertise to such a vital infrastructure project for the Manawatū region,” said Brett Hamilton, Techlam’s Managing Director. “The design for the new Palmerston North Airport terminal highlights the increasing recognition of engineered timber as a preferred structural material, particularly for large-scale, high-performance public buildings.”
Our glulam will feature prominently throughout the terminal’s main structure, creating both functional strength and visual appeal. The design incorporates a mono-pitch roof structure supported by glulam columns and main rafters, with distinctive X-frame beams forming the front and back walls. These elements will create a stunning double-height central area that maximises natural light, improving both energy efficiency and the passenger experience.
What makes this project particularly exciting is the airport’s commitment to sustainability through material choice. By selecting glulam as the preferred structural material, the project shows how modern infrastructure can prioritise environmental responsibility without compromising on performance.
Techlam’s glulam, manufactured from sustainably harvested forests, delivers substantial environmental benefits through multiple pathways. The carbon sequestration aspect is particularly speaking – trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, keeping it locked in the timber for decades, essentially for the lifespan of the building. This natural carbon storage significantly reduces the overall carbon footprint compared to more traditional materials like steel or concrete.
From a manufacturing perspective, engineered timber requires substantially less energy than steel and concrete production, reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire project lifecycle. Being sourced from sustainably managed forests, our glulam ensures long-term material supply while maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. The precision manufacturing process inherent to glulam also maximises timber use, while construction teams generate less on-site waste compared to traditional building methods.
Beyond sustainability, our glulam offers exceptional structural performance perfectly suited to this demanding airport environment. The material provides excellent strength-to-weight performance, dimensional stability, natural fire resistance and excellent seismic performance – which is a major consideration for any major public building in our country.
This project builds on our growing reputation for delivering advanced and environmentally conscious engineered timber solutions across major developments throughout New Zealand. As a Levin-based company that regularly uses Palmerston North Airport, we’re particularly thrilled to contribute to infrastructure that benefits our local region.
Much like the Wellington International Airport South Terminal expansion we had the fantastic opportunity to work on some ten years ago, the new Palmerston North Airport terminal will serve as a great showcase of how engineered timber performs in modern, high-performance public buildings.
We’re proud to be part of this transformative project and look forward to seeing the completed terminal being fully operational in 2027.
