BIG Unveils Design for Mass Timber Airport in Bhutan

BIG recently unveiled its design for Bhutan’s Gelephu International Airport, utilizing mass timber, Building, Design+Construction reported (3-7-25).

Bhutan’s second international airport, near the Bhutan-Indian border, features a modular diagrid structure made of glulam timber. Set against the Himalayas, the airport’s diagrid structure will be crafted from locally and sustainably sourced timber.

The airport’s structurally independent timber frames allow for simple disassembly and expansion to accommodate projected growth.

The airport project is a collaboration with aviation engineering firm Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO). Other collaborators include Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), Changi Airport Planners and Engineers, Influit, and WT Partnership. BIG is both the design architect and structural engineer, and Influit is the MEP engineer.