Earlier this summer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and the joint venture of TAV, CCC, and Arabtec signed an $2.9bn contract for the construction of the Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. With ground works already underway, the opening of the airport is planned in 2017.
The scheme is the centrepiece of ADAC’s multibillion-dollar investment programme which will provide a full terminal building, passenger and cargo facilities, and duty-free shops and restaurants for up to 50 million passengers a year.
The site
Midfield Terminal is located between Abu Dhabi International Airport’s two runways, which gives the terminal its name. This location allows for the quickest possible journey from runway to stand.
The complex will include 20,000-25,000m2 of retail and F&B outlets, set around an 8,400m2 indoor park, with Mediterranean plants and features at its centre and desert landscapes at the edge. Associated support buildings take up an additional 800,000m2, and will include access to 16-20 aircraft parking stands dedicated to cargo.
The concept
The X-shape of the plan enables the terminal to house 49 gates. Passenger facilities and duty-free retail will include high-end commercial facilities covering more than 18,000m2, with over 27,500m2 of airline hospitality lounges, a transit hotel and a heritage and culture museum.
As the largest terminal in Abu Dhabi, the central space will be able to hold three full-sized football pitches. With a height of 52m, the departure hall creates an openness that allows for a smooth and strong connectivity between outdoor landscaping and indoor civic space.
The details
The new terminal is designed to achieve a minimum Two Pearl Rating in Estidama. High-performance and angled glass facades will limit heat entering the building, improving the efficiency of the air conditioning while providing day lighting for interior spaces. Solid cladding has also been integrated in the design, further reducing the impact of the sun.
It will be constructed using approximately 69,000 tonnes of steel, more than 680,000 cubic metres of concrete, nearly 500,000m2 of steel and glass cladding, 135,000 tonnes of rebar, 360,000m2 of suspended ceilings and around 325,000m2 of natural stone flooring.