A new gateway to Singapore

With an increasing number of passengers moving through Changi International Airport in the mid-2000s, SOM designed a third terminal to significantly expand the airport’s capacity. Terminal 3 is a steel-and-glass structure, with four above-ground levels and a 9-hectare roof that spans above the ticketing, departure, and arrival areas.

In plan, the major spaces of the terminal are organized in a series of zones, each 300 meters long and designed according to a different function. This sequence starts at the front of the terminal, adjacent to the departures curb, where a 15-meter-wide, landscaped band is devoted to vertical circulation. This entryway leads into the ticketing hall, which is bounded by columns 60 meters apart. Following the ticketing hall are landscaped, multi-level spaces for departing travelers with lounges, retail, concessions, and other amenities.

Bringing in light

One of the terminal’s most distinctive features is an overhead light modulation system that consists of glass skylights and thousands of aluminum louvers. During the day, the sensor-driven louvers limit the amount of direct sunlight entering the space by filling it with diffused light. At night, artificial light reflects off the louvers to provide a uniform pattern of illumination. This sophisticated technology helps minimize lighting and cooling costs, while also defining the signature aesthetic element of the terminal.