Fentress Architects has published the shortlist for its 2021 Fentress Global Challenge (FGC), which asked students to envision airport mobility in the year 2100.
FGC is an annual international student design competition launched in 2011 by Curtis Fentress that encourages and rewards innovative design in public architecture. The 2021 competition received more than 80 entries from students around the world.
Entrants were able to choose between siting the new terminal at an existing airfield – such as at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International or Beijing Capital International – or at a yet-undeveloped site like Atafu, in the South Pacific’s Tokelau, or Canillo, in Andorra.
Various modes of transport were explored, including pods for intra-airport transport. Drones, hyperloops, hydrofoils, and air rails were among the other transport methods proposed. Several different types of aircraft were studied, including anti-gravity, vertical take-off, rockets and spaceships.
Entries were evaluated based upon five criteria, including technology and sustainability. The shortlist will be judged virtually by a jury of airport architects, directors, planners and scholars, with winners to be announced on December 1, 2021.
A total of US$20,000 will be awarded in cash prizes to the top three candidates. Two ‘People’s Choice’ awards will also be given, each with a US$1,000 cash prize.
