Designed as a premier global transportation hub, Istanbul Airport (T1) is one of the largest construction projects in the world. The building enclosure features custom-engineered Unitized Curtain Wall Systems (CWS), stick system CWS, high-performance dome skylights, and a modular roof steel structure with a vaulted ceiling. Each of these large-span enclosures was developed through an intricate collaborative process between designers and engineers, necessitated by the project’s complex design-build framework.

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The fast-track design was executed in parallel across all key building zones:

• Main Terminal: Facades, vaulted ceilings, and complex roof systems.

• Pier Blocks: Five separate piers including facades, roofs, and both linear and dome skylights.

• Infrastructure Links: Fixed link bridges, boarding bridge envelopes, and car park bridges.

• Interfacing: Comprehensive detailing of all building enclosure interface zones and expansion joints.

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To meet aggressive construction milestones, the entire structural steel system supporting the building enclosure was engineered within a BIM environment in record time, ensuring seamless data delivery to fabricators for immediate shop drawing production.

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A primary design objective was to achieve a modular configuration that prioritize passenger comfort while enabling the required fabrication and erection speed to meet the deadlines. This focus on modularity enabled extraordinary construction velocity, allowing for the massive, simultaneous fabrication of glazed panels, roof cladding, and other critical enclosure components.