Saarinen's Dulles terminal set to be enveloped by Trump-backed airport
US president Donald Trump has unveiled conceptual renderings for an overhaul of Dulles International Airport in Washington DC, with a design that builds on top of architect Eero Saarinen's famous terminal building.
Yesterday, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the plan in partnership with The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and United Airlines, after dozens of architecture studios including ZHA and Adjaye Associates submitted proposals to an RFI from the government late last year.
Trump said he selected the designs "after an extensive review of more than 30 proposals with the top architects anywhere in the world".
However, no architecture studios is explicitly attached to the project at present and a spokesperson from United Airlines told Dezeen that the conceptual renderings could be attributed to their organisation.
"The Airports Authority and United will partner on this transformation to reshape many aspects of the Dulles journey, with new and modernized facilities designed to create a smoother, more efficient and elevated experience from curb to gate, while preserving architect Eero Saarinen's iconic main terminal design," said United Airlines.
The renderings show a sloped structure with clerestory glass directly attached to the columned Saarinen design. Sloped arms on either side of the main terminal will extend outwards while new facilities will be added including a parking garage Trump said will be "the largest garage in the world", according to NBC News.
According to the DOT, the project scope will add 5 million square feet (464,515 square metres) of additional space to the airport.
It will include enhancing the entry with new check-in facilities, "building new and modernized concourses" and replacing the C and D concourses, while installing tunnels to replace the "people movers" – trams that transported people between concourses.
The DOT said the project will be completed over the next "several years" and announced an increase of as much as $13 billion to the original renovation funds.
"The investment of more than $20 billion represents a significant increase over the $7 billion previously allocated for the Dulles modernization program," said the DOT.
"MWAA, working with airlines serving Dulles, will finance the new concourses and terminal facilities through municipal bonds, which offer significantly lower interest rates than bonds available to private-sector firms."
The design comes after a masterplan was announced by the airport in July of last year.
In December, Trump called Dulles "incorrectly designed" and a "terrible airport", though he did compliment the design of the main terminal designed by Saarinen in the 1960s.
The DOT did not respond to Dezeen's request for comment.
The images are courtesy of United Airlines.
The post Saarinen's Dulles terminal set to be enveloped by Trump-backed airport appeared first on Dezeen.
