- Largest seismically-isolated building in the world.
- Designed to withstand a 7.5 – 8.0 Richter magnitude earthquake.
- Award of Merit by Structural Engineers Association of California, category Landmark Structures.
- Award of European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) Steel Design 2011.
Istanbul is seismically active and experiences large earthquakes due to the North Anatolian Fault, which runs for 1,500km between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Sabiha Gökçen Terminal is a new international airport terminal building designed by Tekeli-Sisa Architecture Partnership.
At over 40,000m2 on plan, the terminal is the largest seismically isolated structure built to date.
Arup’s team of seismic experts determined the amount of movement that the building could withstand. Fourteen potential earthquake scenarios were tested and results showed that the structure met and surpassed expectations. Three hundred isolators reduce lateral earthquake loads by 80%.
Engineers from Arup's Istanbul and Los Angeles offices worked together to design and deliver the project, which was completed in just 18 months – record time for a project of such scale and ambition.
“Using our international network of experts, Arup shattered industry standards to redefine what is possible. As a result, the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport terminal project will be recognised globally for its superior earthquake safety features and completion in record time.”
— Atila Zekioglu, Arup Principal and seismic expert for the SGIA project
Arup provided structural, seismic and infrastructural engineering design services to this project.
Arup also provided airport planning consultancy that covered airfield ground lighting, high mast lighting, a visual docking guidance system, aircraft fuel hydrants and baggage handling systems.