New Terminal Building for the Chibougamau-Chapais Airport

The Chibougamau-Chapais airport is the gateway to the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region (Québec, Canada). It services a large territory that includes the communities of Chibougamau, Chapais, and Oujé-Bougoumou. Faced with growing passenger traffic, a new terminal building was deemed necessary to meet the increasing demand. The new terminal was designed according to the latest standards in order to provide seamless passenger experiences and to express the aspirations and culture of the communities it services.

The new building is composed of two low structures on either side of a glazed concourse. The latter serves as a central hub for passengers and connects all terminal functions and services, ensuring that they are easily identifiable and accessible. Its design establishes visual connectivity from the parking lot to the runway. Waiting travelers can watch their plane on the tarmac while others can monitor the pick-up and drop-off zone. This fluidity is further reinforced by the consistent use of materials and lighting treatment when moving from interior to exterior spaces.

Arconas worked on this project in collaboration with Atmosphare, its exclusive distributor in Quebec to supply the the waiting area furniture, outfitted with Arconas’ Bernu Aero Wood seating system. The waiting area is delimited on three sides by timber curtain walls, topped by a raised roof forming a south-facing clerestory. The roof structure combines engineered wood and steel components. Stressed CLT panels spanning 12m are supported by wood columns at each end, reinforced with high-strength steel rods tying the centre to the extremities.

Architecture: EVOQ + Artcad architectes.