Earthquake resistant airport opens in Turkey

Turkey's new international airport based in Istanbul boasts new safety features to help minimise the effects of earthquakes according to project consultant, Arup.

The company said the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SGIA) is the largest seismically-isolated building in the world.

"The new Istanbul airport terminal is a model for the future," said Atila Zekioglu, principal of Arup, and seismic expert for Arup's airport design team.

"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," he added.

It took 18 months for Arup's global airport planning and engineering team, in collaboration with architect, Dogan Tekeli Sami Sisa Mimarlik Ofisi and contractor, Limak-GMR JV, to build "the most technologically superior structure of its size in the world" featuring seismic safety measures "that surpass US building standards."

Limak-GMR JV completed the airport terminal in a fraction of the time similar projects typically require, Arup said in a statement.

The company added the 200000 m² building uses 300 seismic-isolators at the ground level to help absorb and dissipate energy from seismic waves. These isolators will enable the building to move in a controlled manner should an earthquake occur.

Using extensive testing and earthquake simulations, engineers determined isolators will help the building withstand a 7.5 to 8.0 magnitude earthquake, Arup stated.

"The airport terminal is designed to save lives and property," Mr Zekioglu said.

"After undergoing extensive testing and 14 quake simulations, we are confident the design will safeguard a major financial investment and preserve an international transportation system so that it may continue functioning if an earthquake strikes."

The new international terminal also features a new multi-storey car park, a three-storey airport hotel, VIP areas, a 400 m² conference centre, a 5000 m² food court for cafés and restaurants and Europe's second largest Duty Free shopping area.

Arup's airport planners have established a long-range master plan for the site that will accommodate demand beyond 30 million annual passengers.

The new SGIA terminal marks the first phase of this growth and increases passenger capacity from 5 million passengers annually to over 22 million passengers.