Today, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lawrence Wong, officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal, which will strengthen Changi Airport’s position as a leading global air hub and enable its future growth and success.
The design of T5 is inspired by Singapore’s unique blend of nature and city, and characterized by a unique collection of overlapping curved roofs with varying heights. The roof leaves break the mega terminal building into smaller, more human scale spaces. Combined with plentiful natural light and landscaping at key spaces, the terminal will have the familiar yet uplifting feeling for which Changi is known.
Trent Tesch, Design Principal, KPF, said, “With the groundbreaking of Changi Terminal 5, I couldn’t be more excited to see this visionary project come to life. Changi Airport Group has long been a global leader in redefining what an airport can be — proving that efficiency and experience are not mutually exclusive. With Terminal 5, we set out to build on that legacy, challenging the conventional model of airport design. Too often, airports are designed as pure machines for movement—efficient but impersonal, reducing passengers to mere numbers in a system. Instead, T5 is conceived as a vibrant microcity that is distinctly Singaporean — lush, layered, and deeply human. It integrates nature, cultural discovery, and moments of wonder, transforming travel from something to endure into something to enjoy. Rather than endless corridors and passive waiting, it offers spaces that engage, surprise, and delight, proving that an airport can be more than just a gateway — it can be a destination in itself.”
Yam Kum Weng, Chief Executive Officer, Changi Airport Group, said, “Our vision is for T5 to be mega yet cosy, a terminal that embraces the Changi DNA – delivering a personalised, stress free and positively surprising airport experience. As a new gateway to Singapore, T5 offers new possibilities and will bring new surprises. It will offer yet another vibrant space for families, friends and the airport community to gather and bond.”
To aid passenger movement around the terminal, travellators as well as an automated people mover (APM) system (similar to the Skytrain) will reduce walking distances. The walking distances in T5 will be comparable to Changi’s current terminals. The APM network will also link T5 to Terminal 2, facilitating seamless transfers to the other terminals. T5 is also designed to be intuitive for wayfinding, with paths that lead passengers either to the boarding gates or the APM station, where trains will take them to their gates. Passengers will not need to rely heavily on signage to find their way around the terminal.
T5 will see extensive automation of both passenger-facing processes and back-end functions, powered by innovative technologies that are being trialed today for wider implementation by the time T5 opens. This will enable the airport to operate technologies at scale in a sustainable manner, with reduced reliance on manpower.
In addition, T5 will be a Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy building. It will be powered by more clean energy to reduce the carbon footprint of Changi Airport and will be equipped with building management systems that feature innovative and efficient systems design. The terminal’s rooftop solar system, which would be one of the largest in Singapore, can potentially generate enough energy to power up about 20,000 4-room HDB flats for a year.
