iGA, a consortium of five Turkish contractors, selected AECOM and Italian firm Pininfarina to design Istanbul’s new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and technical facility. The design combines the aesthetic properties and dynamics of the aviation and automotive industries, reflecting speed and movement through its architectural form. The winning entry was chosen from six entries of famous firms, including Zaha Hadid Architects, RMJM and Moshe Safdie.

The ATC is expected to become a new landmark for Istanbul New Airport, set to become the world’s largest new airport it terms of passenger capacity. The winning team’s proposal has an aerodynamic form that includes an elliptical tower with a shape inspired by the tulip, the traditional symbol of Istanbul. The automotive visual elements originate from Pininfarina’s experience with car and transportation design.

“Our approach to this competition was to combine the expertise of a different design industry with AECOM’s in-house aviation architecture and engineering capabilities,” said Bernardo Gogna, senior vice president and director of global aviation, AECOM. “Our goal was to bring Pininfarina’s values, which are grounded in tradition and craftsmanship, to the world of aviation. The result marries pure iconic beauty with true innovation.”

The new airport will have an initial capacity of 90 million passengers per year. It will be located on the European side of the city, 35 kilometers from the center on a site adjacent to the Black Sea.