Jerman Cheung
East Asia Press Office,Hong Kong
After four years of design and construction, Arup and Integrated Design Associates Ltd (IDA) joined concessionaire GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) to inaugurate the new Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on 7 June.
Central to this transformation plan is the new Terminal 2, a 3-storey building of 65,500m2 featuring an 18m-tall arched timber roof whose undulations are reminiscent of the waves around Mactan Island. Taking a cue from the vernacular architecture of the tropics, the tall roof with low eaves to the east and west elevations is a direct response to the local climate to protect and control the internal environment through a careful balance between allowing natural light to enter whilst simultaneously blocking excessive heat.
Arup and IDA have been collaborating on the design of the airport since July 2014. IDA is the architect and the interior designer. Arup has provided multidisciplinary services including aviation planning, airfield engineering design, transport planning, and bridges, civil, electrical, façade, fire, highways, mechanical, and structural engineering.
The new terminal has been affectionately referred to as the ‘World’s First Resort Airport Terminal’ by GMCAC, the airport operator. From the use of structural timber as its main element for creating the large span roof, to the rattan furniture and fittings that is Cebu’s local art and crafts, the terminal exudes a spatial elegance and earthy material warmth so unlike most other international airports. This is an international terminal truly befitting the title of ‘Gateway to Cebu’ – a beautiful resort island known for its friendly populace and their warm hospitality.
The new Terminal 2 is designed in a modular fashion for future expansion: the first phase of the development provides 11 contact stands and 17 remote stands with further expansion to include 20 contact stands. The airport is designed to handle 15.8 million passengers per year in Phase1 with onward expansion to 28.3 million passengers in Phase 2.
