I was thinking about this while in T5 a few days ago, and concluded differently that the general building fabric is holding up quite well. What set me on this train of thought was looking at the shade louvres on the outside of the building, thinking they were a bit dirty and suffering some surface corrosion. However, most of the building looks OK and most importantly works OK. No embarrassing leaks [1], for example, or prematurely detaching panes of glass [2], or urgent structural remediation [3] has been required - all of which have happened to other similar size buildings. Interior refurbishment and change happens on an ongoing basis. I don't think LHR T2 is at all superior, in particular T2 doesn't have as many useful amenities and is far too spread out compared to T5.

The BA lounges (GF and GC) need a refurbishment - the design is OK, but everything in there looks like it's at the end of its service life. Seating, wall fittings, chillers, carpet, toilets, showers, everything. But that's not Heathrow Airport's responsibility, that's BA's responsibility, and it's a tiny part of the whole of T5.


[1] Many buildings, including anything designed by Frank Gehry
[2] Hancock Tower, Boston (and others)
[3] Sundry Olympic stadia, etc.