16/10/2023, 10:31 Tech Excellence | Building Muscat's new airport | New Civil Engineer

The internal trusses are exacting

“The trusses proved quite a challenge in design and construction,” notes Brightman.
Yet the erection work was safely completed, notwithstanding the challenges of an
active runway next to the site, together with interface issues.

The heavy engineering was only half the battle. In keeping with the desire for the
terminal to serve as a gateway to Oman, the internal architecture is exacting.
Described as a “reinterpretation of traditional Omani architecture”, the building is
designed to offer a feeling of solidity but with transparency to unite the interior and
exterior, and extensive use of traditional musharabiya latticed glazing to veil and filter
the light. The design also includes several internal courtyards designed to represent a
riyad, or garden.

There was also the challenge of retaining as much flexibility with the internal retail
and lounge space as possible through design and construction, a particular challenge
when you are on a lump sum contract.

“The biggest thing is trying to anticipate the future,” says Brightman. “You won’t know
the tenants, or the throughput, at the start. You don’t always get it right but you try

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