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GORD to support the sustainable expansion of Hamad International Airport

GORD to support the sustainable expansion of Hamad International Airport

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA), that has been ranked as the third best airport in the world and best in Middle East by SKYTRAX, is entering a new phase of extension aimed at increasing the facility’s capacity to 53 million passengers annually by 2022, marking a significant 83% boost from its initial capacity of 29 million passengers per year, reported The Peninsula. The numbers will continue to go up with Phase B of the planned extension post 2022, aiming to reach a total capacity of 60 million passengers per annum. In this context, the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) will be assisting HIA throughout this expansion in incorporating sustainability with the implementation of the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) – MENA’s first sustainability assessment system designed to meet world-class sustainability standards while also considering regional specificities.

Commenting on the scope of implementing sustainability in large-scale public projects like airports, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, said, “For any destination, airports create the very first impression for travelers. They shape some of the strongest perceptions of tourists about a nation and its values. Incorporating sustainability in mega projects like airports, despite numerous challenges, leave a very strong statement about the State of Qatar. By adopting GSAS, HIA’s message is very clear that Qatar has an unyielding stance to support environmental sustainability in every sector. Through our Global Sustainability Assessment System, GORD is proud to be a part of Qatar’s landmark projects like HIA.”

To reduce the project’s environmental impact, HIA is targeting GSAS Design & Build 4-Star rating for the design and construction of the Central Concourse and the new building for Remote Transfer Baggage Facility (RTBF). In practical terms, this rating represents that compared to a conventional project, HIA’s future facilities will be using at least 40% less water. This will be achieved through a range of measures such as water treatment systems to reuse the resource and selecting efficient water fixtures with low flow rates and aerators. Similarly, the project will benefit from energy efficient solutions for lighting and HVAC needs in order to cut down energy consumption by approximately 50%. The expansion also covers upgrading the existing Central Utility Plants which provide chilled water for the HVAC purposes. The systems design utilizes various technological solutions to cater to the requirements of 24×7 usage whilst maintaining the optimum indoor environmental quality conditions.

In the past, HIA has been recognized for being the only airport in the Gulf region to achieve Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 as a result of the airport’s efforts to manage and reduce its carbon emissions. Once complete, HIA’s new terminal will set another record by being the first airport facility in MENA to achieve GSAS D&B 4-Star certificate.