Countries around the world are rushing to build hundreds of new airports or expanding current capacities to cope with surging demand for air travel. Mega airports not only lure tourism dollars they also modernize the image of a country.
Now in the latest developments, Mexico City plans to build one of the largest airports in the world, spanning over half a million square meters. The $9.2 billion international airport will also be the most sustainable airport ever built.
Mexico City has chosen renowned English architect Norman Foster (Foster+Partners) and Mexican architect Fernando Romero (FR-EE) to design this airport.
The Mexico City airport will not be like a group of average warehouse-like terminals
The entire structure will be under a single shell that lets in natural light and air, collects rainwater and provide incredible views of planes circling the sky.
This massive central hub under a single roof will be highly energy efficient
- Since the whole airport function under single roof, the gates won’t require ancillary transportation between terminals and money need not to be spent on building tunnels.
- Travelers will be able to easily walk between gates, making connections less bothersome and saving energy at the same time.
- Solar panels will provide 50 megawatts of peak power, enough to supply a large portion of the airport’s energy.
- The airport will also treat and recycle its own water.
- Instead of using air conditioning, the airport will draw in fresh air from outside most of the time, taking advantage of Mexico City’s high elevation.
