The 2023 National Engineering Grand Prize was awarded at the end of October to the new terminal project at Roland-Garros airport, designed by the AIA Life Designers firm and the architect Olivier Brabant.
She will, in the tropical world, the first naturally ventilated airport building of this size. Its designers responded to the airport's request by designing a terminal that did not require air conditioning in most of its spaces.. Positioned facing east, the 4,000 m2 building receives the prevailing winds, which create a current of interior air which is then evacuated through a large longitudinal opening in the roof. It generates energy savings of around 60%, in comparison with an equivalent building which would be air-conditioned to offer the same level of comfort. The project also received one of the Environment and Sustainable Development Awards, awarded on October 17 in Dakar during the 70th ACI Africa conference (Airports Council International : “international airport council”), the organization that brings together the platforms of Africa and the Indian Ocean. The new terminal is due to enter service in mid-February 2024. It will be entirely devoted to arrivals, departing passengers continuing to be welcomed in the current terminal. Roland-Garros airport is investing 65 million euros in this operation, with the support of the European Union : 50 million in the construction of the new building and 15 million in the establishment of a hold baggage processing system that complies with the security requirements of European regulations which will come into force on March 1st..
