Raising the roof on design in Russia: Pulkovo airport

Pulkovo International airport near St Petersburg is nearing completion of a €1 billion redevelopment as a vital new gateway into Russia. Its new main terminal opened in December 2013 and by the end of 2015 the airport will have a capacity of 17 million passengers per year. It is also one of the first public–private partnership projects of its kind in Russia. Use of conventional construction techniques in innovative ways was a key factor in successful on-time completion of the new terminal building. Developing a flexible concrete frame allowed the contractor to work productively and continuously through the harsh Russian winters. In addition, early geometric studies developed a diagonal spanning roof truss system to realise the competition-winning architectural design. The Russian market has its own unique set of challenges and this paper outlines the techniques utilised to strike the right balance between local compliance and innovation to deliver a major international transport facility.