by Shane Henson — February 20, 2013—HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, has been chosen to work alongside Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) and its Saudi Arabian branch SADECO to design the expansion of King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the largest airport in the world by ground area when it was built in 1987. The team has worked together before and offers extensive expertise in the successful delivery of complex, high-profile airport projects such as the Beijing New International Airport.
NACO and HOK will lead the design team for this prestigious project, which also includes structural engineers from Royal HaskoningDHV, MEP and systems engineers from Buro Happold and local architectural firm TKC. NACO has been involved with the KKIA’s development since 2007 through various master planning and design projects. HOK was the original designer of the existing terminal complex nearly 30 years ago.
The consortium of NACO, SADECO and HOK will design the expansion of the existing Terminals 3 and 4, which will enable the airport to handle 20-25 million passengers per year. Currently, the 30-year-old airport is handling approximately 15 million passengers annually. The expansion project will allow KKIA to meet the country’s economic growth of more than five percent per year. Total project costs are expected to be approximately US$ 800 million, with the expansion scheduled to be complete in 2015, says HOK.
NACO is an independent consultancy and engineering firm in every aspect of airport planning and design. It provides specialist know-how and services for the development of airports and all associated facilities. NACO is a member of Royal HaskoningDHV, a leading independent, international project management, engineering and consultancy service provider with nearly 8,000 professionals in 100 offices in 35 countries around the world.
The recently awarded contract allows HOK to showcase its design and project management skills at yet another airport. The company’s Aviation + Transportation division’s current projects include the Gatwick Airport Expansion and Modernization in London, Bangalore International Airport Terminal 1 in India, and the New Doha International Airport in Qatar, which will open in 2013, says the firm.
