Sint Eustatius Airport terminal future-proofed against hurricane threat

In 2017, Caribbean islands faced the double onslaught of two devastating hurricanes which damaged buildings and infrastructure. Hurricane Irma and Maria were among the most costly hurricanes on record in the Caribbean. While Sint Eustatius avoided the worst of the destruction, the increasing incidence of extreme events such as these across the region mean that new buildings need to be resilient.

3D Modeling helps stakeholders perfect the design

This was a key consideration for the construction of new buildings at the island’s international airport. The new terminal and control tower are designed to withstand category 4 hurricanes. In addition, the new terminal needed to be able to handle expected increases in passenger numbers over the next decade.

NACO, a company of Royal HaskoningDHV, was contracted to provide the design, including structural design services, from concept to detailed design. Our client and stakeholders joined workshops to agree the preferred design and layout, assisted by digital 3D modelling which brought the plans to life. The structural designers of Royal HaskoningDHV provided a ‘back to basics’ design, able to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.