Gandangara People
New South Wales
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is Australia’s first major domestic and international passenger and cargo airport in over 50 years, marking a generational shift in transport design – and a catalyst for economic, social and cultural transformation.
From design concepts by COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects to design and construction by Multiplex and Woods Bagot, the terminal blends innovation with functionality to create a seamless passenger experience.
Inspired by vast horizons of the Australian landscape and informed by Country-led design principles, the terminal is grounded in place and shaped by light. A sculptural ceiling filters Australia’s unique light, contributing to calm, welcoming and intuitive spaces that celebrate Western Sydney’s diversity.
Designed to a 5 Star Green Star rating, it integrates regenerative principles and modular flexibility to enable future expansion. The airport sets a benchmark for sustainable infrastructure, positioning Sydney as a global city, benefitting from a world-class 24-hour gateway.
“Working with COX Architecture and global partner Zaha Hadid Architects, and seeing their vision carried through delivery with Woods Bagot and the Multiplex team, has been transformative for Western Sydney International Airport. The terminal reflects our landscape, culture and ambition, and elevates how we live, work and connect across this region. The design celebrates place and community, and partners have been exceptional collaborators in bringing to life a gateway that’s intuitive and truly world-class.”
David Holm, Project Design/Director
Satvir Mand, Project Director
Michael Grave, Project Architect
Brooke Lloyd, Interior Design Director
Ingird Kelly, Interior Design Lead
Brendan Nolan, Designer
Cristian Gonzalez Diaz, Designer
Adelaide Cowan, Designer
Enrico Anelli-Monti, Designer
Kate Macdonald, Designer
Katie Miller, Urban Designer
Leanne Noh, Designer
Lev Teng, Designer
Matthew Findlay, Designer
Micheal Kahn, Designer
Zia Gatti, Designer
Christiano Ceccato, Director
Paolo Zilli, Director
Mouzhan Majidi, Director
Gianluca Racana, Commerical Director
Clara Martins, Project
Leo Alves, Designer
Nessma Al-Ghoussein, Designer
Enrico Anelli Monti, Designer
Zsuzsanna Barat, Designer
Cristina Barrios Cabrera, Designer
Afsoon Eshaghi, Designer
David Fogliano, Designer
Anna Mieszek, Designer
Peter Safranka, Designer
Michele Salvi, Designer
Ashwin Shah, Designer
Armando Solano, Designer
Sarah Kay, Woods Baggot
Neil Hill, Woods Baggot
Jodi Archer, Woods Baggot
Ashlea Jenkins, Woods Baggot
Mitch Clifton, Woods Baggot
Matt Reynolds, Woods Baggot
Justin Payne, Woods Baggot
Mazdak Goudarzi, Woods Baggot
Pei-Lin Chen, Woods Baggot
Troy Thomas, Woods Baggot
Jenny Saul, Woods Baggot
Soraya Gholami Rendon, Woods Baggot
William Wu, Woods Baggot
Johnson Kuo, Woods Baggot
John Norman, Woods Baggot
Stephen Taskin, Woods Baggot
Meghan Nordeck, Woods Baggot
COX Architecture in Association, Architecture & Interior Design
Zaha Hadid in Association, Architecture & Interior Design
Woods Baggot, Design and Delivery Architect
Bechtel Corporation, Project Manager
Aurecon, Structural, Geotechnical, MEP Engineering
BA Air Consultants, Cost Consultant
Apex Facade Consultants, Facade Engineering
LCI, VHT Engineering
Aurecon, Transport Consultant
Philip Chun & Associates, Fire Engineer
360 Degrees, Landscape Consultant
Lat27, Landscape Consultant
Lichtvision Design, Architectural Lighting Design
LCI, Specialist Lighting Design
Luminous Workshop, Daylight Design
LCI, Acoustic Consultant
AvLogix, Baggage Handling System
SCG, Security Planning
Triagonal, Wayfinding
Chapman Taylor, Retail Planning
Mercurius, Retail Analytics
Arch Artifex, Project Scheduling
Aurecon, Airfield and Apron Planning
Arup, Airport Masterplanning
Murawin, First Nations Consultant
Barbara Flynn, Art Program
Place Partners, Placemaking