Mexico City International Airport by Norman Foster, Mexico
Collaboration between Foster + Partners, FR-EE and NACO won the international competition to design Mexico City’s new international airport. At 743,000 square meters, it will be one of the world’s largest airports and will revolutionize airport design. It pioneers a new concept for a large-span, single airport enclosure, which will achieve new levels of efficiency and flexibility. With spans in excess of 100 meters, three times the span of a conventional airport, it has a monumental scale inspired by Mexican architecture and symbolism. The maximum span internally is 170 meters. The design ensures short walking distances and few level changes, it is easy to navigate, and passengers will not have to use internal trains or underground tunnels.
The entire terminal is enclosed within a continuous lightweight grid shell, embracing walls and roof in a single, flowing form, evocative of flight. The hardworking structure harnesses the power of the sun, collects rainwater, provides shading, directs daylight and enables views – all while achieving a high-performance envelope that meets high thermal and acoustic standards. The LEED Platinum design works with Mexico City’s temperate, dry climate to fill the terminal spaces with fresh air using displacement ventilation principles. For a large part of the year, comfortable temperatures will be maintained by almost 100% outside air, with little or no additional heating or cooling required. The experience for passengers will be unique. Its design provides the most flexible enclosure possible to accommodate internal change and an increase in capacity.
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