ZJA Architects & Engineers and Luis Vidal + Architects appointed as new architects for Schiphol

Where Schiphol was once designed as a ‘one-terminal’ airport, the architects will now work on its renewal as ‘one team’. ZJA Architects & Engineers designs complex projects in the fields of infrastructure, public transport and public facilities, including the large-scale renewal of Amsterdam Central Station, the Eurostar UK Terminal, Zuidasdok, the ringroads around Brussels and Antwerp and multiple parking structures for Schiphol. 

Luis Vidal + Architects has established a globally recognized track record in airport design and sustainable landmarks, with pioneering and worldwide multi-awarded projects including London Heathrow T2 (The Queen’s Terminal), New York JFK, Boston Logan, Denver, DFW, Pittsburgh International Airport, Madrid Barajas T4-T4S and Santiago de Chile.

Luis Vidal + Architects | ZJA Architects & Engineers has been awarded three of the four airport areas, addressing the challenges of improving passenger experience, environmental performance and concession offering. These will be incorporated into Schiphol Plaza including the lounges; the airport piers, gates and flow areas and the landside passenger areas and parking facilities. For the landscape design the leading design practice in landscape architecture and urbanism DELVA Landscape Architecture | Urbanism joins Luis Vidal + Architects | ZJA Architects & Engineers.

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In addition to Luis Vidal + Architects | ZJA Architects & Engineers KAAN Architecten has been appointed as lead architect for the overarching design vision; Paul de Ruiter Architects for the design of the departure halls, baggage halls, and security and customs filters, and Beacon (Benthem Crouwel Architects and NACO) as airport consultant.

Following stand-alone renovations over the past decades, the characteristic simplicity, authenticity and distinct identity of Schiphol’s design DNA have faded into the background. In the years ahead, many parts of the terminal will be renewed, with the aim of gradually restoring Schiphol qualitatively to the top three European hub airports.

A shared design vision must ensure that the airport retains one recognizable identity throughout this process. 

Passenger experience, functionality and quality are central, so that the renewed areas align closely with what travelers need. At the same time, attention is being paid to costs, maintenance, modular construction and sustainability, so that buildings and facilities remain in good condition in the long term as well.

The next phase will focus on defining the conceptual development of the Area Development Plans, setting the foundation for a common design identity and coherence for Schiphol.