Hey everyone,

I could find a thread for Taichung International Airport so I created a new one. All discussions on the airport can be posted here.

Construction of a new international terminal at Taichung Airport began last month and work is scheduled for completion in 2013, the National Expressway Engineering Bureau said yesterday.

The bureau was entrusted by the Civil Aeronautics Administration with the task of designing and building a new terminal for international flights.
Work on airborne facilities began last year, including expanding airport ramps and improving the condition of the taxiways, while construction of the new terminal started last month, the bureau said.

The design for the new terminal was inspired by gray-faced buzzard eagles, also known as the “National Day Bird” because they normally fly to Taiwan around Oct. 10, which is the national day for the Republic of China, it said.
The bureau said the terminal would have upturned roofs like the wings of the gray-faced buzzard eagles to convey the idea of flying. The roof will also be equipped with solar panels to power part of the airport facilities inside the terminal.

The terminal will be able to accommodate five jet bridges and 1.35 million passengers per year.
At present, domestic flight and international flight passengers share the domestic flight terminal, which is designed to accommodate 1.2 million passengers a year.

The two terminals will be able to jointly serve 2.55 million passengers per year when construction is complete.
With the expanded taxiway and improved turning circle for aircraft, the airport is able to allow the landing and departure of the Airbus-330 aircraft, the bureau said.

Previously an airport for domestic flights, the airport saw phenomenal growth in the number of international flight passengers after cross-strait direct flight services were launched in 2008. As the current facilities could no longer meet the increased service demand, the Executive Yuan approved the expansion plan in 2009.

Sat, Mar 31, 2012
Taipei Times with CNA
Taichung touts airport upgrade
BIGGER, BETTER:As well as a new terminal, the airport is increasing the number of parking spaces and constructing a new taxiway that can accommodate larger aircraft

A new international terminal at Taichung International Airport is scheduled to be completed next year, which will double the airport’s capacity, a government official said yesterday.

The Taichung Airport Office said the current terminal was designed to accommodate 1.2 million passengers per year. With the increase in international flights at the airport, total passenger numbers at the airport topped 1.45 million last year, exceeding the current capacity.

The new terminal is to be built by the National Expressway Engineering Bureau (NEEB) and it will consist of one underground floor and four floors above ground level. The new facility will be designed to accommodate 1.35 million passengers.

NEEB chief engineer Lu Jieh-bin (呂介斌) said the exterior of the new terminal would be built in the image of a soaring eagle. Once completed, the terminal will also be equipped with five jet bridges.

Meanwhile, the number of public parking spaces at the airport will also be increased from 120 to 320.

Aside from building the new terminal, Lu said the bureau has renovated the taxiway and built new hangars for aircraft maintenance.

“Currently, the airport can only accommodate aircraft with up to 120 seats,” Lu said. “Once the construction of the taxiway is complete, the airport will be able to handle aircraft like the Boeing 757 or 767, which can seat 200 passengers.”

Lu said the Civil Aeronautics Administration is scheduled to inspect the new terminal in January next year, when passengers on international and domestic flights will be using separate facilities.

In related news, industry leaders said yesterday that a new direct service between Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) and Gimpo Airport in South Korea is expected to significantly boost the number of Taiwanese visitors to that country.

With the opening of the new air route on April 30, the number of Taiwanese travelers to South Korea is expected to increase by 50,000 per year, the Korea Tourism Organization said.

“The timing is good because spring is the high season for tourism,” organization director You Jin-ho said.

The new service between the downtown airports in Taipei and Seoul could save travelers about two hours travel time, which is a huge incentive, You said.

Tourism in South Korea last year was weak, mainly because of the effects of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, one of South Korea’s biggest sources of visitors, he said. However, it is picking up again, he added.

“I am seeing more Taiwanese people, like Japanese, making quick weekend visits just to go shopping,” he said.

Taiwanese travel agencies also expressed optimism about Taiwan-South Korea tourism, anticipating a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in sales after the launch of the non-stop service.

According to Tourism Bureau figures, the number of visits by Taiwanese to South Korea last year totaled 420,000.

what were their expected / projected traveler volume?

International Terminal Renderings:
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/2-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/3-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/4-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/5-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/7-1.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/8.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/9.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/10-2.jpg

Construction Photos:

March 2012:
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/passK/2012_0304_142837AA.jpg

May 2012:
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/passK/2012_0506_174020AA.jpg

Late May 2012:
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/SNC00849.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/SNC00848.jpg

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af221/rank2010/p01-1-b.jpg

not a big fan of the design.. Ceiling too low

not a big fan of the design.. Ceiling too low

Also, the building design (minus the roof) makes it look like a nice office building instead of an airport.

In case people didn't know, the new international terminal is being build adjacent to the current airport terminal (that's what that ugly beige building is in the photos).

Its ok to have the old terminal there. It will be purely for domestic operations (to outlying islands). I like how they are installing Solar panels on the roof of the building. The only thing I dislike about the building is its low ceilings and lack of glass. Using glass and "open plan" design is a good way to increase capacity and make the building look bigger than it is. Most airports are designed like that now. Why is this new terminal still the same as 1990s design?

Why is this new terminal still the same as 1990s design?

cuz it was designed by local taiwanese architects. they're always 20 years behind the times with design. :ohno:

Also, the building design (minus the roof) makes it look like a nice office building instead of an airport.



yes! design is exactly like an office building without the roof. they could have cladded the entire building in glass instead of using white panels. and why did they have to break the roof into 2 pieces?? it wouldve been better had it been on big long roof!

From Taiwan City Forum
http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/41/l/RNtz3OghLulUDK3uiTIIFQ.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/38/l/xfL9jmEngm4upRqR83LdoA.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/36/l/pBrhQNW5NysiEhkZfzHFZw.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/35/l/WnE0fTdPjGL7c36Ml037Gg.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/34/l/U_Ex1TfzkXjPI8FNKmgCLA.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/33/l/FuQndCB4NiQ4HLowOiHb4Q.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/31/l/2NpAcrISrJn5r69cS8mK3A.jpg

http://blog.yimg.com/2/IWh8HiN7s5_ZqlNDX86e70_D6A4jRk8F89QRLBn2lo0597_GwFnAEQ--/30/l/qZCwaLI4OHMJ38jaIRFdqQ.jpg

Things seem to be progressing well with Taichung Airport

found a video of another design for the airport. i guess it was one that wasnt selected. i really like this design better than the one that's being built. much better seamless fluid design especially with the roof. i can see it being solar panels like the kaohsiung world games stadium. why does taiwan always pick the mundane boring designs???

http://vimeo.com/36246609

i found the website of the architect who designed taichung's airport. her name is april yang, based in columbus ohio. maybe she's taiwanese. most of her projects are in china. seems like she's done a lot of airport projects, some of which are better than the taichung design, imo.

http://www.aydesign.us

found a video of another design for the airport. i guess it was one that wasnt selected. i really like this design better than the one that's being built. much better seamless fluid design especially with the roof. i can see it being solar panels like the kaohsiung world games stadium. why does taiwan always pick the mundane boring designs???

http://vimeo.com/36246609

Nice small airport but, wow, there are A380s! Is Taichung really going to be handling super jumbos or it is only artistic vision? I thought these are for long distance flights, not regional. By the way are there any A380s flying to Taoyuan Airport right now?

There is no A380s flying to any Taiwan airport as far as I know. Taoyuan International Airport company is doing runway extension and upgrade to allow A380 land Taoyaun International Airport.

kinda cute structure, but i looks more like a provincial airport...

Nice design for a medium-capacity (?) airport.

Construction Progress as of 9/2012: (from taiwan city forum)
Coming along nicely...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/gtcyy/0909214.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/gtcyy/0909218.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/gtcyy/0909215.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/gtcyy/0909209.jpg

Coming along great! Where is the airport access road?

ummm....why is the terminal built so close to the road??


http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/gtcyy/0909209.jpg

That is exactly why I asked where is the airport access road! LOL

That is exactly why I asked where is the airport access road! LOL


OIC!!!! GREAT QUESTION!!!! :banana:

Ok, from the render, i think I know how that is going to work.. but its very very to the road

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taichung Airport in central Taiwan will start accommodating larger aircraft before the Lunar New Year holiday in February, Tang Kuo-tai, director of the Central Taiwan Joint Services Center under the Executive Yuan, said Tuesday.

Tang said the Cabinet will take steps to allow the airport to accommodate commercial airplanes that can seat around 200 passengers before the Lunar New Year, which begins Feb. 10 next year.

Airport Director Chang Jui-shu said the facility at present only serves smaller aircraft that can seat around 150 passengers, such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.

The airport is currently undergoing a NT$3.89 billion (US$133 million) expansion project that includes renovation of the terminal and aircraft maintenance facilities and expansion of hangars and taxiways.

Tang said the project is scheduled to be completed in March.

In addition to regular domestic flights, Taichung Airport also serves international charter flights to and from various Asian cities, including Hong Kong, Hanoi and major cities in China.

Construction Photos from November 2012:

http://www.freeway.gov.tw/Upload/Html/2012111363/p06-2-b.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/RMQ822A5EC8.jpg

nice! thanks for sharing

weird, it looks so much wider from the ground view than from the aerial view. i hope they improve the landscaping too as it definitely needs it. are those solar panels on the roof?

Hot new pics of the new Taichung International Airport International Terminal completed and in operation now!

i'm only posting the ones i think look good. there are obviously other parts that need improvements (as usual).

This airport is very different from the usual white/ceramic/tile style buildings in taiwan i think? very dark and cold

Source: Taiwan City Forum, courtesy of lin6499


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3082/imag0009burst001.jpg

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2786/imag0010gm.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4692/imag0012dr.jpg

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/4728/imag0011hy.jpg

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/115/imag0013e.jpg

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4594/imag0014i.jpg

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8735/imag0015burst002.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1659/imag0017nf.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/g8y2eUe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/K7eXbEv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/i6M6fgj.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F516B_zps430a179c.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F4E5D_zps61d2b6ab.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F5341_zpsb5ec1918.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F53414E00_zpsce45cd7d.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F53414E09_zps2a930e9e.jpg

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F53414E8C_zps6cffae73.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2127/imag0019af.jpg

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6124/imag0021y.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8775/imag0025h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0V98HyT.jpg

omgosh, am i the only one who thinks the exterior is a mess? look at all those clunky uneven surfaces!! what's the purpose of that v-shaped roof in the middle?? and how about cleaning up that dirty concrete wall or better yet cover it with shrubs or bushes or vines???

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F53414E00_zpsce45cd7d.jpg


and EVERYTHING is grey - exterior is grey, interior is grey. why is everything in taiwan is grey, grey, grey?? taiwanese dont like colors? at least paint some interior walls a different interesting colors or different surface treatment? well, at least it's new. :sly:

this could've been taichung international airport. sleek, innovative, futuristic, clean lines, lots of glass. sigh...

http://vimeo.com/36246609



even this old design is better:

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/f1279864231747.jpg

omgosh, am i the only one who thinks the exterior is a mess? look at all those clunky uneven surfaces!! what's the purpose of that v-shaped roof in the middle?? and how about cleaning up that dirty concrete wall or better yet cover it with shrubs or bushes or vines???

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp260/jim731001man/6A5F53414E00_zpsce45cd7d.jpg


and EVERYTHING is grey - exterior is grey, interior is grey. why is everything in taiwan is grey, grey, grey?? taiwanese dont like colors? at least paint some interior walls a different interesting colors or different surface treatment? well, at least it's new. :sly:

i think the exterior makes a good public library or an IT company office...but it's really weird for an airport

the colour is alrite for me. at least it's a lot better than the plastic flooring at TSA or the pink tile/earth colour ceramic buildings in taipei.

probably a lot easier to clean, given the weather in taiwan as well

OMG! Taiwan has no hope

OMG! Taiwan has no hope


wow that's really negative!! but i think kinda true!! where the F**K do these taiwanese architects get their F**KING architectural degrees from??? seriously!!!! it's just frustrating to see the crap they keep producing!!! i'm not even taiwanese living there and i get frustrated looking at these designs!! why dont taiwanese get frustated with them??? even the worst american architects can design better crap than this!!! :ohno::ohno::ohno:

What happened to the Arco design?

Did they scrap it? Modify it? Because it looks kinda similar, just with all the glass bits replaced by worse looking concrete bits... It's a mess

Some more photos from Taiwan City Forum, courtesy of emokid

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/397927_10152782202740174_542582305_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376035_10152782201445174_1888066950_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/164625_10152782202240174_643687620_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/575534_10152784986085174_1570818072_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/934866_10152784986235174_1322165796_n.jpg