Skanska has been given the go-ahead to start construction of a prestigious new 500-bed Radisson SAS hotel at Stansted Airport after planning permission was granted.
Located to the north-east of the Stansted terminal building, the four-star hotel designed by Aukett Europe, will be the first at Stansted Airport to provide direct pedestrian access to the terminal building by way of a covered walkway.
The hotel, with a striking design featuring a large transparent five-storey atrium at the centre, will provide extensive conference facilities, meeting rooms, a 350 square metre banqueting hall, a health club, restaurants and bars.
Skanska has been involved in the project from concept stage, taking on Radisson SAS’s requirements and appointing Aukett to develop a detailed design. Working closely with Radisson SAS, the two companies devised a hotel that meets the full needs of the operator, eradicating any buildability issues before work starts on site.
Restrictions on the site required that the height of the new hotel should not exceed that of the terminal building. The response is an innovative and striking low-rise design encompassing three groups of bedroom blocks that are inter-linked by a central full height, transparent atrium.
Skanska also assisted with the production of detailed information to support BAA Lynton, the property development arm of Stansted’s owners BAA, which obtained final planning permission.
Construction work is scheduled to finish in early 2004. For Skanska and Aukett Europe, it is a continuation of a relationship in the UK that saw it design and build the Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester Airport.