Main consultant Cowi – along with architectural companies Vilhelm Lauritzen and Zeso – will work on the first 114 M euro phase of the Pier E project, which covers 22,000m² and includes seven aircraft gates. The focus will be on future-proofing the project, as the number of passengers passing through the airport is expected to increase from 26M annually to 40M over the next 25 years. “An airport construction project of this magnitude should be able to stand for at least 50 years. This is why we have created large scope in the structures so that considerable modification is not required each time new needs impose new demands on the interior design and functions,” said Cowi project director for the department for roads and airports Ejner Christensen. “More passengers want to fly directly to long distance destinations. This requires larger aircraft and so capacity for a higher passenger flow through the building, which is reflected in all technical installations and the interior design of lounges, passenger control, etc.” Pier E will open to passengers in April 2019. Copenhagen Airports is investing 2.63bn euro across the next  20 years to increase passenger capacity at the airport. (Source: New Civil Engineer)