New YMM Terminal Wins Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
Fort McMurray, AB–(December 18, 2013) – Fort McMurray Airport’s (YMM) new terminal project was selected as one of the 11 award recipients for the Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence program.
Canadian Architect honors architectural firms across Canada with awards for building design that embody qualities of innovation and overall design excellence. The new terminal was designed by the office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers inc. (OMB), formerly McFarlane | Green | Biggar Architecture + Design. The builder of the new terminal is Ledcor.
OMB stated, “On behalf of the whole team, we are absolutely delighted that the new Fort McMurray Airport Terminal Building has been awarded a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence for 2013. We have been dedicated to the design and delivery of this important project since 2007, and are extremely honoured to receive such genuine recognition from our peers in the national architectural community. The new terminal is really taking shape as a true ambassador to the entire Wood Buffalo region and we’re thrilled that this prestigious award will further amplify the recognition of YMM as Canada’s Premier Regional Airport.”
The jurors noted that “they were impressed with how the project “factors in the remote, rapidly expanding community it is being built for by using a robust material palette and a high performance building envelope.” They added: “the long-span spaces, clear structure, and simple shifting of the levels become very legible and enjoyable.”
The $258 million Fort McMurray Airport terminal building project will redefine air travel for the Region. The new terminal building will allow passengers faster and more efficient parking and check-in facilities; and customers will experience a new level of comfort in our modern terminal, with an exceptional selection of retail and dining options. YMM will transform the customer experience for passengers into a more relaxing and memorable experience.
In order to minimize the building’s carbon footprint, the design incorporates several sustainable strategies appropriate for a northern climate. This includes extensive natural day lighting, passive ventilation, heat recovery systems, and inherent flexibility in the design to accommodate changing airline and security requirements. The use of cross laminated timber (CLT) technology for the building structure is particularly innovative, and will be the largest application of CLT technology in Western Canada when completed.
The annual awards are now in their 46th year and are the highest recognition for excellence in the Canadian architectural sector. Over 208 submissions were received this year for the awards program with a jury selecting six projects for awards of excellence, three projects for Awards of Merit, and two Student Awards of Excellence. Along with the new YMM terminal building, other projects winning awards of excellence were the University Of Toronto Faculty Of Law and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
The award-winning projects are described in full, along with images and complete juror comments, in the December 2013 issue of Canadian Architect at www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/de.aspx.
About Fort McMurray Airport
Fort McMurray Airport Authority is a community-based not-for-profit organization that owns and operates Fort McMurray Airport (YMM). Canada’s sixteenth busiest airport, YMM is the fastest growing airport in Canada with a passenger growth rate of 25% year to date. By year’s end, YMM will be serving nearly 1.2 million passengers. YMM is nearing completion of a new terminal building which will open on June 9, 2014.
For more information, please visit www.flyfortmac.ca or contact us at 780-790-3910.
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