Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport is the eleventh busiest airport in the world. As part of a major expansion plan, building a new Terminal 3 to accommodate an estimated 45m extra passengers per year is Taoyuan’s response to the rapid economic growth of the Asia-Pacific region. 

The largest single investment of Taiwan’s 10 Major Construction Projects, the flagship 540,000m² development has been designed as a sustainable, intelligent transport hub providing a new creative travel experience centred on tourism, shopping, culture and art.

Arup, in a joint venture with British architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Taiwan engineering firm CECI and architect FCA, provided a full range of services including airport planning, digital service, structural engineering, building services, façade design, building sustainability, fire engineering, security, aviation fuel, lighting and acoustics. But the most remarkable element of the new terminal is the organic design concept that will be brought to life.

A unique and fluid architecture 

Inspired by Taiwan’s beautiful land and seascape, an elegant hard-shell roof rises above a unique interior with individual spaces designed to reflect the natural rhythm and life of the country. The roof is supported by a series of four-legged ‘banyan columns’ along the spine of the building, and from inside a ceiling reminiscent of sky and clouds shapes the spaces below. 

Enhancing the passenger experience with Airport Design

Built to the highest standards as the gateway to Taiwan, the terminal reverses the traditional arrangement of departures and arrivals. Set within a unique space and offering unequalled customer service, Terminal 3 provides a world-class hub in East Asia.

Aerial CGI of airport showing planes at gates
The new terminal is one of the airport’s major expansion projects in response to the rapid growth in passenger volume and economic activities in the Asia-Pacific region. © CECI/RSHP/Arup/FCA
CGI of passengers arriving at airport
This terminal will be of the highest quality and uniquely identifiable as the gateway to Taiwan which will make it a joy for passengers to use, and a world-class hub in East Asia.
CGI of the internal concourse area
The new terminal is expected to cater for a huge 45 million passengers a year.

Digitally designing the new terminal 

Achieving the desired levels of customer service at maximum capacity was a major planning challenge, but by using the latest digital tools and techniques, our planning and analytical experts could simulate the flexibility of demand required for the new terminal. 

Building a detailed 3D simulation model, we analysed passenger and aircraft movement in line with forecast demand to replicate a ‘collision avoidance environment’. To fully test our plans, multiple passenger journeys were visualised, allowing us to integrate modern digital processes including technology-based check-ins, advanced security screening, e-gates and a new Automatic People Mover (APM) system into the design.

With a technical, digital, and detailed approach to major investment planning, Arup ensured that Terminal 3 will remain the standard bearer for efficient and sustainable airport design for years to come.

Taoyuan International Airport terminal 3
We built a detailed 3D simulation model in a collision avoidance environment to fully assess the proposed performance of Terminal 3. Passenger journey was visualised and designed in detailed.