Kigali New Passenger Terminal Building – Consultation

Project Overview

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In 2021, 1PAX was engaged to provide design assistance and value engineering services for the new passenger terminal building at Bugesera International Airport, Kigali. Commissioned by the joint venture led by Vinci Construction Grands Projets in collaboration with Qatar Airways Investments, the assignment focused on reviewing and refining key architectural and environmental aspects of a major new airport infrastructure designed to accommodate up to 12 million passengers annually. 

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Key Challenge

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The project faced a series of design-related challenges associated with constructability, environmental performance, and long-term operational efficiency. Critical elements—such as the roof system, terminal canopies, and environmental strategies—required reassessment to mitigate technical risks, improve climatic responsiveness, and ensure that design ambition translated into a robust, buildable solution suited to local conditions. 

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Our Approach

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1PAX worked closely with the project stakeholders to identify potential design inefficiencies and propose targeted improvements. The consultancy focused on value engineering measures including adjustments to the direction of standing seams, the removal of skylights to improve thermal control, and strategies to optimize solar heat gains. Each recommendation balanced architectural intent with performance, constructability, and lifecycle considerations, reinforcing a human-centered and climate-aware design approach.