New Visiting Card for Salzburg

ATP architects engineers wins the negotiation procedure for the development of the terminals at Salzburg Airport

In 2023, Salzburg Airport organized an EU-wide tender process for its “Terminalentwicklung” project. ATP architects engineers was revealed as the successful best bidder in the negotiation procedure for the development of the airport terminal. The design convinced the jury with its optimized functional layout and sustainable architecture and engineering concept.

The current terminal landscape of Salzburg Airport – where the core building dates back to 1966 – has reached the end of its lifecycle in terms of construction, technical infrastructure, and the building regulations, as a result of which it must be completely revitalized. The reconstruction and expansion of the terminal is a key milestone for the development of international airport operations in Salzburg. The design by ATP architects engineers and ATP sustain makes conscious references to the region, merges seamlessly into its surroundings, and was successful in the selection process, partly due to its very special roof construction.

“We took the time required to identify an attractive design and our evaluation commission recognized that the best initial concept came from ATP architects engineers. This gives us a good basis that will be developed during the next design phases over the course of the coming months. I am already eager to see what the airport will really look like, because it should not only meet all the requirements of a modern, energy-efficient, and international passenger airport but also – and most importantly – be the first visiting card for guests arriving in our region,” says Airport Managing Director Bettina Ganghofer. In addition to the main “Terminalentwicklung” project, a series of further structural adaptations are necessary in order to transform the airport into an energy-optimized ensemble by 2033. The overarching objective of the project is a seamless, safe, and efficient operation. The airport’s current terminal complex consists of over a dozen elements, which have evolved since 1966 as a result of adaptations of or additions to the main building. These individual volumes are now being completely renewed, expanded, architecturally and spatially connected, and aligned with the latest technical and statutory requirements. The Departure Terminal 2 is being remodeled and enlarged and the centrally located check-in hall is being adapted and increased in height through the addition of a restaurant and AIRlebniswelt level. The new terminal landscape of Salzburg Airport will be completed by the phased refurbishment of the Arrival Terminal 1.

“A generous and sustainable LARGE SCALE gesture connects two ‘worlds’ – airside and landside – at Salzburg Airport. At the same time, the proposed construction facilitates a phased building process. We are delighted that, thanks to the strengths of our integrated design approach, we were able to solve such a complex and challenging task so successfully,” explains the architect Dario Travaš, ATP Partner and Head of Design at ATP Vienna. ATP was one of several offices that were selected as a result of the open, EU-wide, first phase of the negotiation procedure. In the next phase, the submitted design and implementation concept was awarded first place.


Evaluation criteria
Alongside economic and ecological aspects, urban planning, architectural, and, in particular, functional criteria were also evaluated. In an airport building, the processing, security, and logistics must interact perfectly; public transport, passenger movements, and the necessary level of safety must be guaranteed at all times. The perfect positioning of generous waiting areas and a wide range of restaurant and shopping options guarantee optimum comfort in the new AIRlebniswelt. A new link will enable passengers to move rapidly between the two terminal buildings in future.

Climate and the future
The project has a very high ecological quality thanks to its extremely efficient building services and the use of natural, regional, and renewable raw materials. The saving of resources, energy-efficiency, and the circular economy are key aspects of the sustainability concept. The use of materials will be significantly reduced due to the partial retention of the existing structure. The modular loadbearing structure makes the building easy to dismantle and reuse in the spirit of the circular economy.


