Upgrade works at Changi Terminal 1, the oldest terminal at the airport, have been completed at an estimated cost of S$500 million.

The project has given the terminal a fresh, rejuvenated look as well as improving passenger flows in key areas.

About 22,000sqms of space have also been added to the building, bringing the total floor space to about 308,000sqms.

Tropical City

Developed on the thematic concept of a ‘Tropical City’, improvements to the façade and terminal facilities were done with the aim of improving the airport experience for passengers.

Changes were made to the layout of the terminal, with the introduction of better wayfinding elements.

Added to this, higher ceilings, improved lighting, wider thoroughfares and thoughtful landscaping have all contributed to a high quality experience that is synonymous with the Changi Experience.

A major challenge facing the project engineers was to carry out the upgrading even as T1 remained operational.

This meant that works had to be done in phases during the four-year period to accommodate the different operational requirements of the terminal’s users.

A total of 1.5 million man-hours were utilised during the project, and at its peak, 385 workers could be found onsite at the terminal, toiling round the clock to ensure that inconveniences were kept to a minimum.

A highlight of the revamped Departure Check-in Hall is the addition of one of the world’s largest kinetic art sculptures.

Known as Kinetic Rain, this sculpture is made up of a total of 1,216 bronze droplets, moving in synchrony to a specially choreographed dance every day.

Lee Seow Hiang, chief executive officer, Changi Airport Group said: “At CAG, we believe in the importance of constant rejuvenation in order to keep the Changi Experience refreshing.

“With this in mind, we are embarking on the implementation of various enhancements and improvements around Changi Airport to meet the changing needs of our customers and prepare for future growth.”

Singapore Changi Airport is considered the World’s Leading Airport by the World Travel Awards.