LEAF award shortlist a leap for ‘face-changing’ Tiruchy airport terminal project

The new terminal, which is expected to be completed late next year, is already touted to change the face of the city.

Sharing the information on the shortlisting online recently, the Pascall+Watson group-the international architecture firm founded in 1956 by Clive Pascall and Peter Watson that is also the designer for the terminal building at the Tiruchirapalli International Airport, in a statement said the terminal design fuses references from the city’s local heritage and culture with a contemporary palette of materials to create a unique sense of place and identity.

Mentioning further, the architecture firm stated that the expressive roof form and multi-layered façade of the upcoming terminal take inspiration from the geometry, textures and colours of Tiruchy’s traditional temple architecture. Generous natural light and lush landscaped gardens bring a calming backdrop to the expansive forecourt and arrivals concourse, which lead to the streamlined passenger processing facilities and departures lounge, it added. Climatic constraints, local customs and specific Indian security processes have also been considered and are reflected in the aesthetic, planning and structural solutions, Pascall+Watson group said. Sources said that the terminal project was sent by the Pascall+Watson group for the World Architecture News (WAN) awards 2018 under ‘Transport-future’ project category, and that it was even selected in the final list. However, the Las Vegas airport architecture was adjudged winner during that year. This year, the architecture firm had hence sent the Tiruchy project for the LEAF awards where it has again managed to find its way in the final shortlist. The ABB LEAF Awards is an annual international architectural prize that claims to recognise innovative architectural design that sets the benchmark for the international architectural community of the next generation.

The GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) council that assesses performance of buildings against certain nationally acceptable benchmarks has accorded the upcoming terminal building at Tiruchy airport with a four-star rating as the design utilises renewable energy measures such as rainwater harvesting, ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.

The 60,000 sq m terminal is expected to accommodate flights for over 3.5 million passengers each year. Upon learning the importance of the international terminal in the Tier II city, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allocated around Rs 1000 crore for the project and this is expected to be a model terminal among all other international airports across the country. France-based Egis Group has collaborated to implement the latest engineering and technological advancements for the construction of the terminal. The Italy-Thailand collaborative ITD firm has also been awarded tender by AAI. Construction works had commenced on September 23, 2018 after releasing the miniature of the terminal. Work is expected to be completed by October 2021.

The winner of the LEAF awards would be declared on October 24 this year. City development enthusiasts claim that once the new terminal construction is completed, it would change the face of Tiruchy city. The LEAF award could only mean more.