Designed and completed in only four years, Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport has opened. The world's largest building and most advanced airport, the new terminal offers an unparalleled travelling experience, not only technologically, but also in terms of operational efficiency, passenger comfort, sustainability and access to natural light. Completed as the gateway to Beijing for athletes participating in the twenty-ninth Olympiad, it is designed to be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and its dragon-like form celebrate the thrill and poetry of flight. Its gold roof resonates with the Forbidden City, while the striking interior palette of red through orange to yellow evokes traditional Chinese colours.
Located between the existing eastern runway and the future third runway, Terminal 3 and the Ground Transportation Centre (GTC) together enclose a floor area of approximately 1.3 million square metres, mostly under one roof. The first building to break the one million square meter barrier, it will accommodate an estimated 50 million passengers per annum by 2020.
Although conceived on an unprecedented scale, the building's design aims to resolve the complexities of modern air travel, combining spatial clarity with high service standards. It will be friendly and uplifting for the passenger as well as easy to navigate. Comprising three connected, light-filled volumes
