Increasing demand for travel and global commerce has stimulated the need for airport facilities around the world. The International Air Transport Association’s 2018 Annual Review predicts more than 7.8 billion passenger trips by 2036, nearly doubling the 3.8 billion in 2016. By 2050, this number is expected to reach 16 billion people annually.
Designing terminals large enough to cope with future passenger growth without compromising on comfort poses both a challenge and an opportunity for airport architects. “The most successful terminals in the future will be multi-layered hyperspaces designed to create a unique sense of place in their location,” said Curtis Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, principal in charge of design for Fentress Architects.