THE Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (Lipad), operator of Clark International Airport (CRK), has tapped global design firm Populous as the lead interior designer of the New CRK Passenger Terminal Building.
Populous is an award-winning global design firm specializing in places of mass congregation including sports and entertainment, COEX, arenas, and airports.
The firm's notable projects include a large upgrading of Kansai Airport in Japan's second-biggest metropolitan area, Zhuhai International Airport, Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium and the Philippine Arena, among others.
Populous envisions to create a new terminal that is international in its standards and operations but local in terms of its materiality and sense of place.
Pampanga, which is the home of Clark, offers a variety of spectacular natural scenery from lava riverbeds to lush green mountains and teal blue volcanic lakes, according to the designer.
Populous drew inspiration from this to select a material palette that nods towards that vibrancy and avoids the neutral, beige palette which afflicts many airports around the world.
Passenger experience is at the heart of the design and it will offer a fresh new experience each time someone visits, Populous stated.
Populous is also working with Casas+Architects, one of the top architectural design firms in the country.
Casas+Architects is behind many of the iconic structures that dot the Manila skyline, including the tallest building in the country, the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City.
The new CRK Passenger Terminal Building is targeted to be operational by 2021, one year after turn -over of the building shell, which is being constructed by Megawide-GMR Construction Joint Venture (MGCJV) and is 99 percent complete.
Lipad Corporation is a special purpose company established to manage the operations and maintenance of Clark Airport.
The members of Lipad Corporation are Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International.
The consortium members have vast experience in airport operations, air transportation and property development. Lipad Corporation has committed to bring in this expertise to transform CRK into a world-class airport.