Low-Carbon Aviation Architecture & Sustainability Strategy
Embodied + operational carbon reduction strategies for terminals — KSA Net Zero 2060, NEOM zero-carbon alignment.
Foster + Partners runs a dedicated Sustainability and Environmental Engineering group that has worked on aviation projects since the studio designed the Masdar City master plan in Abu Dhabi (2007, the world's first planned zero-carbon city). The aviation low-carbon practice covers embodied-carbon reduction (concrete mix optimisation, structural-steel reuse, mass timber where feasible), operational-carbon reduction (passive cooling, north-light daylighting, photovoltaic roof integration, district cooling tie-ins), water reuse, and BREEAM / LEED / Estidama Pearl certification strategy. Reference work includes Queen Alia International in Amman (passive concrete shell roof reducing solar gain in desert climate), and the studio is delivering low-carbon architecture aligned with Saudi Net Zero 2060 and NEOM zero-carbon commitments on Red Sea Project airports including Amaala.
Key specs
| Operational carbon target | Net Zero ready (Saudi NZ 2060) |
| Embodied carbon reduction | 30 – 50 % vs RIBA 2030 baseline |
| Daylight strategy | North-light + ETFE roof modules |
| PV integration | Roof-mounted, typical 5 – 25 MWp |
| Cooling strategy | District cooling + passive shading + thermal mass |
| Certification targets | BREEAM Excellent · LEED Gold/Platinum · Estidama Pearl |
| Reference projects | Queen Alia · Masdar City master plan · Amaala (in delivery) |
| Programme duration | Aligned with terminal design 5 – 8 years |