Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 to open in July
From a project that started in 2016, the government will soon unveil the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2. Set to be the second largest airport in the Philippines, Terminal 2 is designed to handle up to 8 million international passengers per year after a period of 10 years. Now 96% complete, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) is looking to invite stakeholders, media, engineering students, and those from the tourism industry for its opening.
The roof structure of the terminal is constructed from glulam (laminated timber,) a natural and sustainable material made from timber. This is the biggest project of its kind to introduce glulam as the main building structure in the world.
MCIA Terminal 2 is a three-floor building with a total of 65,000 square meters of space. With a goal to be a green building, the sustainable and energy-efficient airport terminal looks to be the world’s friendliest airport terminal, showcasing the warmth and hospitality of Cebuanos.
The most recognizable element is the roof that gives a nod to ocean waves and the Cebuano heritage of furniture making as it is made of an array of gulam arches. The curves enable Terminal 2 to be as column-free as possible, resulting in Terminal 2’s 26-meter-high ceiling that promotes good air circulation. This creates a fresher, cooler environment significantly reducing the terminal’s need for air conditioning.
The new airport will also feature an impregnable 3-layer glass wall system to bring in natural light and deflect heat, keeping the interiors cool and well-lit. It’s also an environment-friendly solution, as it helps lower the terminal’s carbon footprint!
The polished concrete floor will have Mother of Pearls mixed in so it would sparkle like sand in the sunlight, matching the wave design of the ceiling.
The opening of MCIA Terminal 2 is scheduled on July 1, 2018. Once the new terminal is operational, GMCAC said they will start a major renovation of Terminal 1. GMCAC had started initial rehabilitation of the old terminal when it took over management of MCIA and put up a rooftop solar power system that resulted in monthly savings of P1.2 million in electric consumption.
Written by Heloise Diamante
Images grabbed from Megawide Facebook page
Featured Image grabbed from megawide.com.ph
Sources: Mactan Cebu Airport Fabeook page, www.ida-hk.com, mycebu.ph
