The terminal, opened on October 31, 2009, is designed to mark a new era in seismic safety design and expedited planning, design and building construction.
In just 18 months, Arup’s global airport planning and engineering team, in collaboration with architect Dogan Tekeli Sami Sisa Mimarlik Ofisi and contractor LIMAK-GMR JV, helped transform vacant land into the most technologically superior structure of its size in the world. LIMAK-GMR JV’s construction crews completed the airport terminal in a fraction of the time similar projects typically require.
The 200,000 square meter building uses 300 seismic isolators at the ground level to help absorb and dissipate energy from seismic waves. These isolators will enable the building to move in a controlled manner should an earthquake occur. Using extensive testing and earthquake simulations, engineers determined that isolators will help the building withstand an earthquake of 7.5 to 8.0 on the richter scale.
Ensuring earthquake safety and maintaining the continuity of this nationally-important strategic facility was a top priority for LIMAK-GMR-MAHB consortium and the Arup designers. Arup used the most sophisticated engineering available to protect lives and property should another quake occur.
Arup’s airport planners, designers and engineers developed solutions for specialist airport systems, including baggage handling, passenger boarding bridges, vertical circulation and facades, enabling the airport’s prompt return to operation following an earthquake.
