The current infrastructure covers 20,000 square meters and an intervention of 55,000 square meters is being carried out.
SANTIAGO. -The new building being constructed at the Cibao International Airport will put Santiago de los Caballeros on the world map when international flights resume and will allow for new connections that are currently not possible due to a lack of available space.
Architect Oscar Torrejón, a member of the Luis Vidal firm, assured that the construction project for the new terminal at Cibao International Airport will have its first phase ready by mid-2025, which is already underway.
In an article published in Listín Diario, the professional emphasized the importance of understanding that this will be the construction of a new terminal, not an extension of the existing one. It will have the capacity to handle over 4 million passengers, significantly more than the 1.5 million it currently receives.
Torrejón clarified that his job is exclusively to design, not to build, since another company will be selected for this through a competition.
He also said that the reconstruction of the new infrastructure began at the end of December 2020, this being the base project of the construction company that is currently carrying out other projects and it is estimated that the work will begin in the coming weeks.
Wooden construction
“It is one of the few airports in the world that will be built almost entirely with a laminated wood structure, which is why it will be more sustainable than other existing terminal buildings,” Torrejón commented, referring to the new features the building will have.
He stated that this design will have nothing to envy in others that this company is currently developing in the United States or Europe.
“We have invented a design that helps to reduce the stress of the user or passenger as much as possible, and furthermore, if we manage to reduce that stress, what it allows is that if one is relaxed, one consumes more,” he said.
Torrejón emphasized the importance of the user experience, from the moment they leave the plane until they collect their luggage, because it is the first impression a tourist has of a country; therefore, this is the idea behind the project, which will have an investment of approximately more than 300 million dollars
The first of three phases is expected to be completed in two and a half years. The total project time is not expected to exceed five years.
He explained that the current infrastructure covers 20,000 square meters and that an intervention of 55,000 square meters is being carried out, which would double its current size.
From the check-in area, it will be possible to observe the tail of the planes, which, according to the architect, would allow passengers to have control over where the boarding gate would be, reducing their anxiety level.
The design includes two areas that will represent themed gardens, and they will be adjacent to the exterior, where passengers can stay and relax.
Agreements have also been reached with cultural institutions for the placement of art spaces that highlight Dominican culture.
