Dominican Republic airport expansion will add mixed-use features

The recently revealed design concept for the expansion of Santiago International Airport in the Dominican Republic includes a transformation of the current building into a mixed-use space that features an office park, business center, and hotel.

Design of the $300 million project, totaling 592,000 sf, by luis vidal + architects, takes inspiration from the natural beauty and culture of the Caribbean region. The expansion will improve the efficient flow of passengers, accommodating as many as four million travelers when it opens—resulting in a doubling of current capability. The expansion will also increase capacity for cargo, providing an accelerant for regional trade.

STI design 2

The terminal expansion will include expanded check-in and ticketing, advanced security and baggage operations, and new outdoor green areas. It will also provide more space for aircraft parking and extend the airport runway to 9,800 feet, which can accommodate larger aircraft.

Passenger Efficiency — Passenger efficiency was taken into consideration when designing the expansion of STI.

New terminal features include:

·Nine contact stands in the airport’s apron where an aircraft could use a passenger boarding bridge if desired by the airline. Each is designed on two levels to segregate the flow of departures from arrivals.

·One mile of new roads.

·Over 150,000 sf of green space.

·A raised parking area connected to the new terminal.

·Airport offices and an expansive commercial, hotel, and business center featuring restaurants and food options.

·An elevated and independent access road that leads to the check-in on level two, while another access road connects everything to the pre-existing building and the arrivals hall on level one.

The terminal’s architecture will blend with the curves of the surrounding landscape, inspired by the linearity of the harvest fields of bananas, tobacco, and coffee. The region’s backdrop is recreated within the terminal. The interior ceilings emulate shade from vegetation, with more than 8 million pounds of timber making up the roofing structure.

Owner and/or developer: Aeropuerto Internacional del Cibao (AIC)

Design architect: luis vidal + architects

Architect of record: luis vidal + architects

MEP engineer: AAS-ERMES / INICA

Structural engineer: OPTIMUM ENGINEER

General contractor/construction manager: Not yet awarded

A terminal modernization program can be a complicated and expensive task that airport operators may be hesitant to undertake unless necessitated by demands for increased capacity. This is the first post in our series examining why airport operators should bother to upgrade their facilities, even if capacity isn’t forcing the issue.