Felix García, president of the private Cibao International Airport announced RD$16 billion will be invested in the remodeling of Santiago’s international airport. He also announced famous Spanish architect Luis Vidal has been commissioned for the redesign.
The Spanish firm of Luis Vidal + Architects has built a reputation after designing terminals in 15 international airports around the world, including London’s Heathrow T2 (The Queen’s Terminal) in London. “The Queen’s Terminal, inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England in 2014, soon became a landmark building in terms of energy efficiency. It’s the world’s first airport to obtain a BREEAM Excellent rating, thanks to a design conceived to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% through the combination and development of active and passive energy systems.
Luis Vidal has designed terminals and facilities at the Zaragoza and Barajas (Madrid) in Spain, Boston, Dallas (DFW) and Pittsburgh (USA), Santiago de Chile and Warsaw International in Poland. In 2017 , Vinci Airports contracted the redesign of the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo.
“Airports are the cathedrals of the 21st century,” says Luis Vidal. He explains they are the first and last thing travelers see, leaving a lasting impression. “This is the reason why I have devoted my life and career to the design of more than 15 airports worldwide,” he explains.
The Cibao International Airport, located just east of Santiago is the third most busy Dominican airport after Punta Cana International and Las Americas International. The expansion of the terminal with an investment of US$300 million will allow it to receive flights from Europe with a doubling of the number of travelers.
Oscar Torrejon and company will be the constructors of the major expansion project.
The runway will be extended to 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) from 2,620 meters at present to accommodate aircraft of greater capacity and range.
Both the passenger and freight terminals will be remodeled and enlarged. The plan is to increase the passenger capacity from two to four million passengers a year and the number of jobs from two thousand to approximately four thousand. Cargo capacity will also be considerably increased. Santiago already handles some two million passengers and over 25,000,000 lbs of cargo each year. Santiago is a major manufacturing center.
The firm stresses commanding physical appearance with functional and sustainable design. In numerous interviews with leading publications, architect Vidal has spoken of what he calls the “fifth-generation airport” that is driven by public health, circumstances and innovation. He speaks of “flexibility,” the solution to the need to balance the feeling of freedom of movement with the fear of uncertainty. He highlights the new technologies and new materials that are now the new standard in these pandemic times. The new airport designs need to adapt to the new contactless reality while eliminating traveler stress, and serving as a first showcase to a destination.
Luis Vidal + Architects has offices in Spain, the UK, Chile, the United States and the Dominican Republic.
President Luis Abinader, Santiago senator Eduardo Estrella and Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado were present for the official start of the Cibao International Airport expansion.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
El Caribe
Interiors and Sources
El Pais
Afar
Azure Magazine
Aviation Pros
Facebook
Luis Vidal
30 November 2021