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Vancouver International Airport: Finished

Vancouver
British Columbia

Extterior view on approach to Vancouver International Airport.

Extterior view on approach to Vancouver International Airport. Front view at the passenger drop off area. View of the support of the roof extensions. "Tree structure" supporting skylight frame and roof. Aerial view of the terminal taken from the Fairmont Hotel adjacent. Interior view of the terminal. View of the interior of the terminal adjacent to the food court. Clerestory glazing along the front of the terminal allows light to penetrate the space. Sunlight streams into the departures area of the terminal in the early morning. The moment frame system creates a large clear span while also providing an interesting looking structural system. Side view of the suspended walkway system that connects to the Fairmont Hotel View of the underside of the suspended walkway.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

The three-storey, 105,000 m2 airport facility confirms Vancouver's reputation as Canada's foremost gateway to Asia, and one of the world's most popular transfer points for connecting flights to North American and European destinations. International and transborder passengers enjoy streamlined security and check-in facilities, advanced baggage-handling technology, a diversified concession court, short walking distances, and an interior design enlivened by British Columbia's scenic outdoors and aboriginal art.

Projected to serve more than 10 million passengers annually by the year 2010, the $350 million expansion program also included the construction of a third runway, and provided additional capacity to the overcrowded, existing terminal, temporarily converted to domestic use, before its recent (and continuing) replacement with a new facility. The attractive and functional design was honoured in 1996 as the winner of the CISC Steel Design Award for the British Columbia region.

photos: Terri Meyer Boake

Vancouver International Airport - Gateway to the Pacific Rim

Vancouver International Airport is for many travelers both the first and last impression of Canada. The airport is even now being expanded to accommodate ever increasing international travel.

The airport uses a suspended steel walkway system as the means to separate different security levels of passengers as they pass through International and United States departure and arrival areas.

The Architecturally Exposed Steel Momenet Frame system appears like a series of trees, holding the numerous skylights in place.

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