According to this short article from YVR's Skytalk newsletter (link to pdf), construction is moving ahead on the nine-gate terminal expansion, with phase one scheduled for completion by June 2007.
Work on the five storey Link Building (pictured above) is also well underway, with completion expected by the summer of 2007. This building will connect both the domestic and international terminals, as well as the main Canada Line station that is being built at YVR.
As for the YVR 4 Station, preliminary design proposals can be found here, here, here, and here (pdfs). The first proposal is careful to note that its main purpose is to provide details on the functional aspects of the station, 'in terms of form, scale and character'. 'Detailed design' of the station will come later, with construction set to begin in early 2007.
An ariel photo and map of the Canada Line's approach to the airport can be found here.
For more information on the preceding photos, visit project-designer Kasian's site here.
An animated video rendering of the Link Building and another video on the Canada Line are availabe here, while the following brochure (link to pdf) has some more renderings of the terminal expansion and Link Building.
And for a brief overview of the YVR Expansion project, have a look at our original post from June 2005, below.
Original Post:
Last week, the Vancouver International Airport Authority initiated a $1.4 billion capital program that will expand the International Terminal by adding nine more gates. Besides adding capacity for more planes at YVR, the new gates will also be able to accommodate the next generation of larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787.
In addition to the International Terminal expansion, a new five storey building will be constructed as well, that will connect the Domestic and International terminals. It will also serve as the main entry point to and from the RAV line at YVR.
And saving the best for last...rumour has it that there will be a giant aquarium in the new International Terminal wing, where passengers will be able to view sealife from the Pacific Ocean. Among the terminal's new inhabitants: jellyfish (who will get their own, separate tank).
The Airport Authority has initiated this expansion in order to accommodate the projected 23 million passengers who will pass through Vancouver's airport by 2013, up from the 16.4 million passengers who are expected to pass through YVR in 2005.
The project will be completed in two phases, with the first five new gates to be finished by the summer of 2007, and the remaining four gates to be completed by 2009.
For more information on YVR's expansion project, the press release can be found here.
