CASE OVERVIEW
Construction started in 2015 with the brief of building a large airport to handle growing air traffic as Istanbul was fast becoming an important hub for travellers and international airlines.
The first phase of the project had a soft opening in October 2018 with the plan to completely reroute all air traffic by the beginning of 2019. Once all phases are complete in 2027, it will be the largest airport in Europe, with six runways and be able to handle 200 million passengers per year.
Passenger experience lies at the heart of the design, guided by cutting-edge technology. Robots, artificial intelligence, facial recognition and other similar features to capture personal information are used. Beacon technology, wireless internet, wireless and new generation GSM infrastructure, LTE, sensor and talking ‘objects’ serve passengers, making their journey quicker and more enjoyable. A bag drop system enables passengers to check in their luggage quickly and easily.
There will be a hotel inside the Airport terminals with a total of 451 rooms for overnight and hourly accommodation, several international and local restaurants, cafeterias and bars, a huge Duty Free area, several CIP - VIP and other lounges, a huge car park, several kiosks, conference halls, left baggage, hairdresser, photography service, shoe shiners, newsstands, grocery, florist, medical services, pharmacy, rent-a-cars, travel agents, airline ticket offices, banking offices and ATM's etc.
The airport is not only setting standards in terms of design and technology; it is also a pioneer in sustainability. The terminal is designed according to the USGBC’s (U.S. Green Building Council) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification scheme, a rating system awarded for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings and projects. A green airport-certification scheme by the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority will soon follow, and all tenants will also obtain Green Enterprise Certificates under the same scheme. The construction of the terminal aimed to be eco-friendly, too. An environmental and social impact study assessment was conducted at the beginning of the project, which consisted of action plans for the potential environmental impacts that the project might have.
