Dock B Zurich

Zurich Airport

Dock B Aussen 1
Flughafen Zürich Dock B 2
Flughafen Zürich Dock B 3
Flughafen Zürich Dock B 4
Flughafen Zürich Dock B 5

New Fingerdock for Zurich Airport

With its Zurich 2010 project, Flughafen Zurich AG implemented the requirements of the Schengen agreement as far as passenger infrastructure was concerned. The measures necessary to introduce the free movement of people with the Schengen states included the separation of the airport infrastructure into Schengen and non-Schengen areas. In order to compensate for the capacity loss resulting from the division of the airport infrastructure at a qualitatively high level over the long term, Fingerdock, built in the 1970s, was dismantled and Dock B built in its place.
The building is a fingerdock on two levels, divided into Schengen and non-Schengen areas, with 9 dock gates and 8 bus gates. Each level has further amenities such as gastronomy, retail, waiting zones, transfer counters and visitor terraces, as well as technical facilities, infrastructure and safety areas. Thanks to the simple, large roof construction, the building follows the shape of the airport. A crucial factor for the urban planning was a reference/connection to Airside Center, where the same materials have been used in the interior of the building.

The Schengen border as a particular challenge

In this major project, the overall contractor HRS faced particular challenges. During the realisation of Dock B, for example, the airport was in continuous operation. The strict separation between Schengen and non-Schengen areas and the necessary document security, also demanded skilled expertise. Document security means that all openings and joints between the Schengen and non-Schengen areas had to be designed in such a way that not even the smallest ID card could pass through or be thrown over. Great attention was also paid to the construction tolerances to be taken into account due to the reuse of the existing steel construction from the 1970s, which were larger than usual. Given the complexity of the task, the construction period was short. Also worth mentioning as a special feature are the extensive in-house technology and aircraft energy supply, both of which were integrated into the construction in such a way that they are hardly visible to the visitor; and last but not least, working in a noisy and buzzing environment.

Information

Owner
Flughafen Zurich AG Constructional Facility Management

Architect
Burckhardt + Partner AG

Plot size
35,000 sqm

Total cost
approx. CHF 145 million

Construction period
2009 – 2011

Contact

HRS Real Estate AG
Siewerdtstrasse 8
8050 Zurich

+41 58 122 80 00
zuerich@hrs.ch

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