An uplifting terminal building

New Heydar Aliyev International Airport

Baku, Azerbaijan

Located 30 km north-east of the capital Baku, New Heydar Aliyev serves as the country’s only international airport. By 2011 its one million passenger capacity was becoming overstretched, so Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) proposed an extensive expansion initiative that would see this increased by 150%.

Challenge

The client required a fast construction programme for the airport due to the increasing passenger demand. This, combined with the airport’s location in a seismic region, presented a number of challenges for our engineers.

Solution

Buro Happold teamed up with the architect in a joint venture to produce a design and build fast track programme for AZAL that would both provide a new terminal and distinguish the airport with an iconic new access route.

Using the latest in computer modelling technology, the team came up with a striking design that not only negotiated the risk of earthquakes, but also complies fully with international ICAO and IATA standards. This included developing a smoke ventilation and fire engineering strategy that met European codes, and integrating an intelligible public address and voice alarm system into the central fire and security system.

Value

Conceived in the form of the AZAL logo, a shape originally devised by Arup, the resulting 58,000 m², four-storey terminal building is breath taking, serving as a striking and memorable gateway to Azerbaijan.

Solution

Buro Happold teamed up with the architect in a joint venture to produce a design and build fast track programme for AZAL that would both provide a new terminal and distinguish the airport with an iconic new access route.

Using the latest in computer modelling technology, the team came up with a striking design that not only negotiated the risk of earthquakes, but also complies fully with international ICAO and IATA standards. This included developing a smoke ventilation and fire engineering strategy that met European codes, and integrating an intelligible public address and voice alarm system into the central fire and security system.

Value

Conceived in the form of the AZAL logo, a shape originally devised by Arup, the resulting 58,000 m², four-storey terminal building is breath taking, serving as a striking and memorable gateway to Azerbaijan.