Anti-seismic roofing solution for Heydar Aliyev International Airport Baku

Detailed information

Construction of the new terminal started in May 2011 with the aim to convert Baku International Airport into a hub for the whole Caucasus region. The building, officially opened in October 2013, triples the capacity of the airport and operates international flights, whereas the existing terminal is now used for domestic flights only. With a total usable area of 58 000 m2 over four floors, the new terminal is able to serve 3 million passengers per year. A 4000-m long runway and 13 passenger boarding bridges allow for the receiving of eight airplanes at a time. The construction of a new air traffic control tower was also part of the project.

A unique & modern design

The building's design, developed by Arup in collaboration with Woods Bagot and Buro Happold, is based on the shape of a triangle with rounded-off edges and angles. The fully glazed, tapered facade provides the building with its characteristic aesthetics. Its innovative, organic shape allows for natural light to enter the space through the facade and the semi- transparent roof. The roof's skylights are an integral part of its steel structure.

As Baku is located in a seismic zone, a complex structural engineering solution was required in order to comply with the seismic forces. A combined analysis of the structural perimeter and the concrete foundation was conducted and a frame resisting system designed. The design team of ArcelorMittal Construction Poland assisted in these calculations and supported the engineers with their technical expertise. Hacierco® 150/280 x 0.75 mm long span steel decking from ArcelorMittal Construction reached the best matching properties for the new terminal's roof. A total of 25 000 m2 of Hacierco® decking in grades S 320 GD and Z 275, galvanised with a 15µm architectural finish in white RAL 9010, were supplied.

The designers' main aim was to create an attractive, modern facility with comfortable interior spaces, reducing stress and encouraging relaxation. Generously proportioned, naturally lit spaces and extensive internal and external views contribute to the comfortable atmosphere.

Passenger operations are concentrated on the two main floors of the terminal building with vertical separation of arriving and departing passengers. The ground level includes baggage claim and facilities and business lounges. Furthermore, the terminal also offers luxurious shopping and leisure areas.

The relatively harsh and variable climatic conditions and the variation of passenger density in a 24-hour period played an important role in the design of the building services. Architects and engineers worked closely together to create a multifunctional design that allows for the optimising of operations while reducing the costs. A reduction of energy consumption was achieved with strategies like lighting control, controlled infiltration and pressurisation, dynamic system operations, and energy recovering systems. All these highly innovative technologies contribute to the terminal's environmental performance, with a low carbon footprint compared to other facilities of this kind in the region.

Simultaneous to the construction of the new terminal, the existing terminal was refurbished: the old facade was stripped and replaced by metal mesh with additional insulation - a design more in harmony with the adjacent new terminal building.