Architect appointed to lead major Sydney Airport expansion

06 Feb 2026 By architectureau

Global architecture firm Grimshaw and engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald have been newly appointed as the lead consultants for a major T2-T3 terminal link project at Sydney Airport, supporting the delivery of the airport's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure pipeline over the next five years.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said the appointment is a critical step in delivering the airport's long-term growth strategy.

"Our $6 billion capital program is critical to maintaining an efficient, high-quality experience for airlines and passengers as we grow towards our masterplan forecast of 72 million passengers a year by 2045," he commented.

A central element of the airport's preliminary draft Master Plan 2045, the T2-T3 terminal link project involves expanding terminal capacity, improving airline efficiency and delivering a more seamless passenger journey. It includes up to 12 new swing gates to support both domestic and international operations.

As a first step, the project will involve developing early designs, conducting site surveys and identifying risks, which will collectively support upcoming approvals and planning processes.

According to the company's media statement, the appointment of Grimshaw and Mott MacDonald signifies "a shift from project-by-project contracting to a long-term framework partnership model, designed to improve delivery efficiency, consistency, design excellence, and innovation."

Sydney Airport's group executive of planning and delivery Paul Willis commented, "Establishing long-term partnerships with leading design and engineering firms gives us greater consistency across projects, improves coordination between disciplines, and helps us move faster from concept to delivery while maintaining the highest standards of safety, sustainability and design quality."

The media release notes that the two practices were selected through an international tender process, in which "both firms … [demonstrated] strong alignment with Sydney Airport's ambition to deliver a more efficient, resilient, and world-class passenger experience."

Grimshaw's portfolio includes major airport projects such as London Heathrow, Istanbul Airport, JFK and Shenzhen.

The media statement notes that further announcements will be made shortly regarding the selection of additional consultants and contractors to support Sydney Airport's capital works program.