{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-19/sunshine-coast-airport-mass-timber-terminal","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-19/sunshine-coast-airport-mass-timber-terminal.md","title":"Sunshine Coast Airport Starts Mass Timber Terminal Build","headline":"Sunshine Coast Airport Begins 30-Tonne Glulam Install for $170 Million Terminal","description":"Sunshine Coast Airport has started installing 30 tonnes of glulam for its $170 million terminal, cutting embodied carbon by about 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.","section":"Expansion","published_at":"2026-10-19T02:06:49+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-19T02:06:49+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Sunshine Coast Airport has begun installing around 30 tonnes of glulam timber for its $170 million terminal redevelopment.","The airport said the timber reduces the terminal's embodied carbon with an estimated Global Warming Potential saving of roughly 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.","Populous: Fentress Studios designed the raking roof frames with builder McNab, and Theca Timber provides specialist timber engineering consultation."],"companies":[{"name":"Sunshine Coast Airport","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/002ex3b/sunshine-coast-airport","website":"https://www.sunshinecoastairport.com.au"},{"name":"Populous","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004zkc/populous","website":"https://populous.com"},{"name":"Theca Timber","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005g991/theca-timber","website":"https://theca.com.au"}],"source":{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","title":"Sunshine Coast Airport begins installation for Australia’s first Mass Timber Terminal","url":"https://www.einnews.com/article/950614588/live"},"other_sources":[{"publisher":"Prweb","url":"https://www.prweb.com/releases/velocity-maintenance-solutions-announces-major-expansion-of-hangar-facilities-at-wilmington-airport-ilg-in-delaware-302911918.html"},{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","url":"https://www.einnews.com/article/950098664/live"},{"publisher":"EIN Presswire","url":"https://www.einnews.com/article/950273671/live"},{"publisher":"Aviation International News","url":"https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-10-15/california-fbo-mro-desert-jet-begins-major-expansion"}],"tags":["Expansion","Sunshine Coast Airport","Populous","Theca Timber"],"body_markdown":"[Sunshine Coast Airport](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/002ex3b/sunshine-coast-airport) has begun installing around 30 tonnes of glulam timber for its $170 million terminal redevelopment, which it says will be Australia's first mass timber engineered terminal. The airport said the raking roof frames are being installed ahead of the terminal's completion in 2027, according to [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/article/950614588/live).\n\n## How the Glulam Frames Are Being Built\n\nThe engineered timber, known as glulam or GLT, forms the terminal's raking roof frames, a feature designed by [Populous](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0004zkc/populous): Fentress Studios' Australian team in partnership with builder McNab. The airport said the timber's use over traditional steel and concrete reduces the terminal's embodied carbon with an estimated Global Warming Potential saving of roughly 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.\n\nPopulous has designed other large venues this year. On September 29, Dezeen reported the firm unveiled its design for the Rach Chiec Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, which will become Vietnam's national stadium, with around 30,000 more seats than the current record holder. On October 12, Newcivilengineer reported Populous was appointed to lead a study on development and leisure opportunities around London Stadium.\n\nSunshine Coast Airport General Manager Projects and Planning Robin Mace said the timber structure taking shape was a significant moment. \"This is where the vision our community helped shape really starts to come to life,\" Mr Mace said. Matt Findlay, Principal and Head of Aviation, APAC at Populous: Fentress Studios, said most terminals of this size rely on steel and concrete. \"It's genuinely rare for an airport to use timber at this scale,\" Mr Findlay said.\n\n## Sunshine Coast Airport's Terminal Investment\n\nAccording to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Sunshine Coast Airport signed LagardèreAWPL as its retail and food and beverage partner in March 2026, the largest commercial investment in the airport's history, nearly doubling terminal commercial space with new outlets expected operational by late 2027. The same records show McNab was appointed in October 2025 as builder for the $170 million terminal redevelopment, with approximately 2,000-2,500 workers on site and 90% of trades and subcontractors from the region. The airport serves 1.8 million passengers annually, per the same records.\n\n## Other Airport Expansions Underway\n\nVelocity Maintenance Solutions is expanding its Wilmington Airport hangar from 20,000 to 75,000 square feet, doubling capacity, with completion expected by the end of the month, [Prweb](https://www.prweb.com/releases/velocity-maintenance-solutions-announces-major-expansion-of-hangar-facilities-at-wilmington-airport-ilg-in-delaware-302911918.html) reported on October 18. Edmonton International Airport and Terracap broke ground on a 50,000-square-foot airside cargo facility with $118 million in federal funding, [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/article/950098664/live) reported on October 16. Spokane International Airport completed its Concourse C expansion, adding 140,000 square feet, [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/article/950273671/live) reported on October 15.\n\n## What Comes Next for the Terminal\n\nInstallation of the glulam frames will continue over the coming weeks, with specialist timber engineering consultation provided by [Theca Timber](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/005g991/theca-timber), the airport said. The frames form a key structural and visual feature of the new departures hall ahead of the terminal's completion in 2027.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}