Taiwan’s New Pride at Its Gateway: Winners of Taoyuan Airport’s Third Terminal International Design Competition Announced

▲ Taoyuan Airport Corporation General Manager Fei Hong-jun (4th from the right, front row) joins the first-prize winning team (right) and the T3 chief consultant team (left) in witnessing this historic moment.

Photos & Text / Provided by Taoyuan Airport

The much-anticipated second-phase finals of the international design competition for Taoyuan Airport Corporation’s third terminal area were announced on the 30th of this month (October), to the public's eager anticipation. The first prize was awarded to the renowned Taiwanese firm CECI and the prestigious British team Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Their innovative and outstanding planning and design concepts, as well as highly efficient circulation, secured their win. Particularly moving was the interior experience concept that adapts fluidly to user needs, which earned the approval of the judges. The model of the first-prize design for the third terminal was also unveiled to the public for the first time after much anticipation. Upon completion in 2020, it will shine on the global stage as Taiwan’s new gateway.

▲ The model of the first-prize design for Taoyuan Airport’s third terminal is unveiled to the public for the first time and will shine on the global stage as Taiwan’s new gateway upon completion in 2020.

Taoyuan Airport Corporation General Manager Fei Hong-jun stated that the announcement of the first prize for the third terminal’s international design competition marks a historic milestone. The Taoyuan Airport third terminal area construction project is the largest single investment in Taiwan since the Ten Major Construction Projects and serves as the flagship initiative under the “Twelve Key Construction Projects for Loving Taiwan,” with a total budget of NT$74.6 billion. The development includes the third terminal and boarding gate areas, a multi-functional building, and infrastructure such as service road systems, aprons and associated taxiways, automated people mover systems, and external access roads for the terminal area. This project will not only drive domestic industrial and economic growth but also establish Taoyuan International Airport as a hub in East Asia. The mega-terminal, designed around the themes of Smart, Green, and Culture, will be upgraded together with the first and second terminals, further evolving into a sustainable smart airport that integrates tourism, shopping, culture, art, and technology—creating a whole new travel experience for passengers and becoming a source of pride for all Taiwanese.

▲ The first-prize winning team of the Taoyuan Airport third terminal international design competition earned the judges’ recognition for its innovative, outstanding planning and design concepts, as well as highly efficient circulation design.

General Manager Fei Hong-jun also pointed out that the third terminal area construction project is crucial to the future development of Taoyuan Airport, Taoyuan City, and Taiwan as a whole. This project will not only effectively attract investment to Taiwan and serve as the driving engine behind the takeoff of the Taoyuan Aerotropolis but also inject vital momentum into Taiwan’s economic and industrial prosperity. It will further expand national domestic demand, invigorate Taiwan’s job market, and even boost development in finance and industry investments, making a significant contribution to the country’s economic growth.

▲ Conceptual front view rendering of the first-prize model for the Taoyuan Airport third terminal international design competition.

To ensure fairness and transparency in the international design competition, the airport corporation invited a panel of 11 experts from four continents—Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa—whose expertise spans technology and IT, culture, green energy, and airport operations, forming the judging committee. Dr. Hsia Chu-joe, Director of the Graduate Institute of Building and Planning at National Taiwan University, was unanimously elected as the convener.

In addition, to ensure the future construction of the third terminal area is free from undue external interference, the airport corporation specially established an anti-corruption platform. Government inspection agencies, integrity units, engineering authorities, and contractors jointly signed an anti-corruption declaration. This initiative expands public participation in oversight and establishes channels for administrative and judicial cooperation, fully demonstrating the airport corporation’s commitment to completing this major national public works project with fairness, impartiality, and transparency. It also actively sets an example of “integrity, efficiency, professionalism, and safety” in public construction.

▲ Taoyuan Airport Corporation General Manager Fei Hong-jun (center) presents an award to congratulate the first-prize winning international design team.

The Taiwanese firm CECI, winner of the first prize in the third terminal area international design competition, has an impressive and strong architectural background. Meanwhile, the elite British team Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is globally renowned and holds a high reputation and status in the international architecture industry. Their iconic projects include London Heathrow Terminal 5, Madrid Barajas Airport Terminal 4, the Taipei Performing Arts Center, and the upcoming New Keelung Harbor Service Building. Their strength has earned high praise and acclaim from the judging committee. Related award-winning works will soon be exhibited at Taoyuan Airport’s second terminal and Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, along with a series of seminars on the first-prize designs. The public is welcome to visit and learn more.

For details on related award-winning works and exhibition and seminar events, please visit the website: www.T3.com.tw