Deerns is an independent, multi-disciplinary, engineering consultancy company. Founded in 1928, we provide expert design services in the fields of building services, sustainability, energy supply and master planning. We excel in combining sustainable and innovative concepts with reliable and practical implementation to help our clients build comfortable, safe and sustainable working and living environments.
We became involved with the development of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in the 1960s’, and still are a valued partner of the airport today. Based on more than 50 years’ experience, Deerns has developed a strong international airport practice that is fully dedicated to creating safe, sustainable and comfortable airport environments. We work closely with airport operators, architects and contractors in various stages of airport development. Projects have been realised for more than 100 airports worldwide.
We are independent from manufacturers, vendors and contractors. As such we ensure that our clients always receive the best solution to meet your business needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your inquiries.
Airport planning and development
Deerns takes a holistic approach to developing airports. An airport to us is not merely a collection of buildings and runways: it is an important entity in local and national economies and societies. Airports generate employment and increase the connectivity of a city with the rest of the nation and the world. As such designing airports is a responsibility we do not take lightly. Deerns provides a service portfolio that helps our clients build safe, sustainable and comfortable airport environments.
Airports are constantly in flux. An ever-increasing part of the world population enjoys flight as means to travel, either domestically or internationally. Airports are cornerstones in our global economy. As such countries rely on them for the connection to the world. Increasingly airports are viewed upon as prestige projects for cities and countries. But airports also have a great impact on the local community.
In 1967, our relationship with Schiphol began during first development on its current location. Four decades later, we are still a valued airport systems consultant to the airport.
A close collaboration with Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF), ADAC and NACO has resulted in one of the biggest and most advanced airport terminals in the world.
A key project is the rearrangement of Concourse B to allow handling of the Airbus A380. With a constant flow of projects, Deerns helps Fraport remain a leading European hub.
Terminal 2 is to be a masterpiece, designed by Foster+Partners. Deerns has matched the architectural design with leading-edge airport engineering for security, ICT and apron systems.
A single terminal handles domestic traffic in Spain and UK operations in parallel. Deerns designed and supervised the commissioning for all terminal ICT, security, baggage handling and apron systems.
Deerns is responsible for replacement of 31 boarding bridges and to ensure the current terminal can serve the latest aircraft at Aeroporti Di Roma (ADR).
Denver International Airport is continuously improving its facilities. Deerns USA has been awarded a large on-call contract for mechanical system modifications at the terminal and concourses.
A total of 86 million passengers annually pass through Charles de Gaulle Airport. In 2011, Deerns France was awarded a contract with AdP for building physics and mechanical engineering services.
Gaborone’s terminal building and systems are designed in accordance with international regulations. Full segregation between arriving and departing passengers is ensured, including 100% screening of passengers, staff and baggage.
Cairo International Airport opened Terminal 3 in 2009. During the development and construction, Deerns was responsible for the design, tender documents, tendering and construction supervision.
As a result, holistic airport planning and development is vital to sustain airport operations in the long run. Deerns is able to assist airport in a variety of ways with their strategic planning and development that is based on operational experience, process expertise and state-of-the-art technical knowledge.
Our early engagement with a project enables clients and architects to understand the implications of the demands presented by the airport processes and regulations at an early stage. We are able to translate stakeholders’ requirements into technical solutions and integrate them into the operational airport environment.
Our airport planning and development portfolio includes:
Airport master planning
Terminal planning
Airport operational planning
Terminal operational optimisation
Sustainability strategies
Certification
Sustainable aerotropolis development
Utility and network planning
Smart networks
Airport systems design
Deerns is one of the few engineering consultancies with in-depth expertise in virtually all facets of airport systems design and processes; security, telecommunications, passenger processes, baggage handling, aircraft ground handling, airfield ground lighting and navigational aids.
The importance and complexity of technology within the airport environment is growing rapidly. Airports rely on a number of specialised systems in order to facilitate airport-specific processes. As a result, independent consulting engineers are vital to the success of airport development, construction and operation.
These systems deal with communications information and the processing of passengers and their baggage, the aircraft ground handling and the aeronautical navigation and surveillance.
Our airport systems design portfolio encompasses:
Terminal systems: check-in systems, telecommunications, baggage handling, security, public address voice announcements, etc.
Aeronautical and meteorological systems: aeronautical ground lighting and signage, navigation and landing aids, ground control and surveillance, air traffic control and communication, meteorological facilities, etc.
Building physics: acoustics, heat gains, insulation, etc.
Transportation and life-safety: escalators, travelators, elevators, flow simulation, fire exit strategies, etc.
MEP systems: HVAC, high, medium and low-voltage systems, sanitary services, etc.
Advisory services
In addition, Deerns provides advice to airports in planning stages and throughout the operation. We make a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience available to our clients. As such, Deerns is a partner of choice for any airport development or expansion project.
Research projects may involve operational studies, technical analyses and reviews of policies or procedures. When new opportunities or solutions are identified we are able to assess their feasibility and develop business cases for their implementation.
Our staff has a wide range of experience with airport operations, endowed with the knowledge and expertise to analyse and benchmark facility performance. We combine our knowledge of the operational environment with detailed technical knowledge of systems and equipment to best serve our clients.
We maintain our position at the forefront of technological developments by participating in industry initiatives and establishing best practices. Our staff is involved in the drafting of various industry standards.
We see asset management not only as a way of cutting costs, but as a way of creating benefits. It is a source of innovation for the creation of new revenue streams. Communication and information technology provide a continuous stream of new possibilities for monitoring, analysing and optimising everything that goes on at the airport.
Rather than simply being a user of IT systems, airports are now providers of services: to the passengers, airlines and tenants but also to local businesses and urban areas. By combining knowledge from a large number of airports, and from a wide range of projects in infrastructure and the built environment, we are able to realise the full potential of airport facilities.
Airports drive economic development, and are key indicators of a region's economic power. With economic growth, passenger and freight traffic increases. The complexity of airfield lighting systems mirrors air traffic development.
A new terminal at the Kuwait International Airport (KIA) is being developed by the airport’s operator Directorate General of Civil Aviation to transform it into a new regional air hub in the Gulf.
The expansion plans at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol included the new fifth runway, Polderbaan, opened for operation at the end of February 2003, as well as the renovation of Departure Lounge 1, which opened in 2005.
Located 15km east of Walvis Bay city in the Erongo Region of Namibia, Walvis Bay International Airport is the second international airport in the country.
Palmerola International Airport is a new airport being constructed in Comayagua, Honduras, to replace Toncontin International Airport, which is situated in the capital city of Tegucigalpa.
William P Hobby Airport (HOU), the oldest commercial airport in Houston, Texas, US, constructed its first international terminal, transforming the airport into an international gateway to Latin America.
Ocala International Airport (OCF) is a general aviation airport located four miles west of the City of Ocala in Marion County, Florida. Also known as Ocala International-Jim Taylor Field, the airport is owned and operated by City of Ocala.
One of the busiest airports in North America, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is expanding its passenger terminal to meet the forecasted passenger growth at the airport.
Terminal Building 2 (TB2), one of the three terminals at Cairo International Airport (CAI), Egypt's biggest and Africa's second biggest airport, is currently undergoing a refurbishment and capacity expansion.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) is a new purpose-built mega terminal, which is designed to replace the older low-cost terminal at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Abu Dhabi International Airport is expected to handle 20 million passengers over the next few years. The Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) is being constructed to cope with increasing passenger traffic.
King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah is the third largest and busiest airport of Saudi Arabia. It handled 17.8 million passengers in 2010. The airport is the gateway to Saudi Arabia for a large number of pilgrims. It is close to the cities of Mecca and Medina, two of the holiest sites in Islam.
Viracopos International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Brazil. It is located about 22km away from the city of Campinas, a major trade and technology hub for the country.
The new Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is due to replace the overloaded and unexpandable Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang), was scheduled to open in June 2006.
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport in Roissy, north of Paris, is undergoing expansion, while recovering from the tragic events of May 2004 when part of the roof of Terminal 2E – the most recent expansion project at the time which opened in June 2003 – collapsed, killing four people and injuring many others.
Flying is becoming accessible to growing numbers of people. On one hand this is due to increasing prosperity, and on the other because of lower cost. The passengers and the airlines which carry them expect outstanding service from airports. For example, no long queues for checking-in or customs, but a smooth and brisk flow.
During the Smart Airports Conference in Munich, Airport Practice Leader Anke Matijssen presented Deerns' vision on future proof airports. Our vision centres on helping airports to adapt to change by taking advantage of technological developments. The ability to adapt to changes determines whether your airport will be future proof or not.
Every year the Dutch Aerospace Fund awards a price to the best graduation research in aerospace. This year Robert Geurts is nominated for his research into Pre-Conditioned Air Sub-Freezing conducted at Deerns.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has recently radical modernisation, offering a more efficient and service-oriented security process, and more space on piers.
To open up the poorly accessible Volta region in Ghana, the Ghanese government has decided to have an airport built near the town of Ho. The new airport should be finished in 2016. Deerns was approached by the Ghanese contractor Amandi to come up with a complete design for this airport.
On Friday 19 June the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam was opened in a spectacular manner. Guests included Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The former nursing home has been completely restyled and now meets all the demands of a contemporary museum in
In cooperation with Dura Vermeer and the Technical University Delft, Deerns has developed the design of three extraordinary sustainable office villas in the city of Almere. After a first Breeam-NL evaluation by the Dutch Green Building Council, the project is expected to be labelled "excellent".<
The new terminal at Eindhoven Airport has officially begun operation. The opening ceremony was initiated by the first passenger, who was travelling to Stockholm. After the official opening the check-in began and the terminal was ready for use. The transparent building with large glass f
During the event 'Holland Innovation' the jury announced the Deerns project ‘Seawater as a Sustainable Source for Energy’ as the winner of the ID-NL Innovation Year prize. Earlier the jury announced this project as winner in the 'Energy and Environment' category. The jury awarded the