Kuwait Airport Expansion

Kuwait International Airport is planned to significantly increase capacity and establish a new regional air hub in the Gulf – the project’s strategic aims will be matched by a state-of-the-art terminal building, which will provide the highest levels of comfort for passengers and will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings. Its design is rooted in a sense of place, responsive to the climate of one of the hottest inhabited environments on earth and inspired by local forms and materials.

The terminal has a trefoil plan, comprising three symmetrical wings of departure gates. Each facade spans 1.2 kilometers and all extend from a dramatic 25-meter-high central space. The terminal balnces the enclosure of this vast area with a design that is highly legible at a human scale – for simplicity and ease of use there are few level changes.

 

To future aid orientation, the building is planned under a single roof canopy, punctuated by glazed openings that filter daylight, while deflecting direct solar radiation. The canopy extends to shade a generous entrance plaza and is supported by tapering concrete columns – their fluid, organic forms draw inspiration from the contrast between the solidity of the stone and movement of Kuwait’s traditional dhow sailing boats.

 

The project targets LEED ‘gold’ – it aims to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain this level of environmental accreditation. The conrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovolatic panels to harvest solar energy.

The Site has flexible masterplan, with the terminal strategically located to anticipate and enable future expansion. The airport will initially accomodate 13 million passengers per year, with the flexibility to increase to 25 million passengers and to accomodate 50 million passengers with future development.

FACTS AND FIGURES

First phase will accommodate 13 MAP (million annual passengers)
lexibility to increase to 25 MAP and then to be further expanded and enable the Gulf’s new regional hub to serve up 50 MAP

Stand flexibility to accommodate between 30-51contact stands in first phase
Sufficient landside area to allow parking, GTC and high-end landside facilities such as offices and DGCA headquarters and hotels
60m span roof canopy
Minimised walking distance below 600m from centre to end points of terminal
The airport plan currently consists of two parallel runways (a 3rd runway is planned), two passenger terminal buildings, a heavy maintenance facility, cargo facility, fuel farm and the Al Mubarak Air Force Base for the Kuwait Air Force
Two transit hotels located airside.

Site Area: The split of the total area into landside area will be approx 150 ha and approx 360 ha for the airside area.
Building Footprint: 140,000 m²
Building Height: Up to 39m
Number of Storeys: The terminal building has 4 levels above ground and one underground.
Program: Start on site 2012
Structure: The concrete shell roof structure consists of 78 perimeter and 12 internal structural bays.
Cladding: Typical Bay: 45m glass façade protected by canopy.
Sustainability: Striving to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain LEED ‘gold’ status
The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.

 

Check in and baggage handling:
120 Check in desks for 13 MAP
180 Check in desks for 25 MAP
13 MAP baggage handling system will be able to handle a peak of 2,930 bags per hour
25 MAP baggage handling system will be able to handle a peak of 5,390 bags per hour

Approximately 6 km of baggage conveyors
Approximately 1.5 km of high speed baggage sorters
Integrated baggage system incorporating screening, dynamic storage and sorting.

 

Links to the airport and parking –
The new terminal will have a new landside access sequence from the south as a new road connects from the King Faisal Motorway 51 and the 7th Ring Road. Plans are to establish a metro linking the airport to Kuwait City Centre.

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