On Wednesday 26 October, a ground-breaking ceremony, led by Ahmet Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, marked the launch of Istanbul New Airport’s Air Traffic Control tower construction. Once finished, the tower will become the world’s largest airport “built from scratch”. The tower, scheduled to be delivered in six months, will rise as high as 90m over an area of 6,085sqm.
Ahmet Arslan, Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication, inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony of Istanbul New Airport’s Air Traffic Control tower designed by Pininfarina and AECOM. The tower, winner of the 2016 International Architecture Award, will be 90m-tall and completed in approximately six months.
The ceremony was attended by Orhan Birdal, Transportation, Maritimes and Communications Ministry Deputy Undersecretary; Funda Ocak, General Director of State Airports Authority of Turkey; IGA Board Members; and top executives of Pininfarina and AECOM. “Air Traffic Control towers have taken on a new significance in the next-generation airports, becoming an architectural design icon aside from functionality,” explains Yusuf Akçayoğlu, CEO of IGA Airports Construction, at the ceremony. “We believe that this Air Traffic Control tower will offer Istanbul a new city symbol and fascinate the aviation community with its unique design. With inspiration drawn from the tulip flower, a symbol in Turkish history and Istanbul’s rich cultural heritage, and its aerodynamic shape, our tower will be visible to all passengers travelling between Europe and Asia. Being the developer of the world’s largest airport, we stand out in this aspect, as well.”
The ceremony was attended by Orhan Birdal, Transportation, Maritimes and Communications Ministry Deputy Undersecretary; Funda Ocak, General Director of State Airports Authority of Turkey; IGA Board Members; and top executives of Pininfarina and AECOM.
Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of Pininfarina Group, added: “The laying of the corner stone is an important step towards the birth of this extraordinary building destined to become a real milestone for Istanbul. I’m particularly proud of this project as it’s the evidence that, with the right team, an outstanding and sculptural design – winner of the International Architecture Award – will become real.”
In December 2015, Pininfarina and AECOM won the design contest for the Air Traffic Control tower, organised by IGA, with a design inspired by the tulip flower. INA’s Air Traffic Control Tower and Technical Building received the 2016 International Architecture Award by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Istanbul New Airport Air Traffic Control Tower technical information:
- Construction Area: 6,085 m²
- Height: 90m
- Number of floors: 17 + basement
- Foundation type: Raft Foundation + 30m deep drilled shaft foundation
- Carrier System: Reinforced concrete & steel construction
- Façade material: Glass fibre reinforced concrete will be used to create organic curvy form on the tower façade
- Tower Control level: Two-floor control level with an employee capacity of 16. The control floors will have a glass façade, enabling a 360-degree panorama view, providing reflective and acoustical comfort.
- Technical building: Cafeteria, gym & squash courts, offices, recreational rooms, seminar hall, meeting rooms.
