NACO and Benthem Crouwel Architects chosen to support delivery Schiphol Master Plan
NACO and Benthem Crouwel Architects have been awarded the role of airport consultant for the Schiphol Master Plan, a multi-year investment programme focused on implementing a series of coordinated developments across the Schiphol Terminal Area to improve consistency and traveller comfort.
The programme places traveller needs at the centre of Schiphol’s ongoing development, while balancing service quality with environmental responsibility.
To achieve this, Schiphol will follow a unified design vision to ensure a simple, consistent, sustainable, and future-ready design. The programme’s aim is to regain Schiphol’s position as one of the top three European hub airports, while contributing to the airport’s longevity.
We are placing the needs of our travellers at the heart of everything we do.
Functional and carefully designed areas, which optimally support the complex processes at the airport, are of great importance. These will ensure that our travellers feel comfortable and at ease amidst the hustle and bustle of travel. Schiphol will once again become clear and recognisable through greater consistency and a distinct design style.
While improvement works across the airport are already well underway, the wider Master Plan programme is due to start later this year and will focus on developing many parts of the terminal, including filters, landside and lounges. NACO and Benthem Crouwel architects will jointly serve as consultant for Schiphol to work with the selected architects, providing airport-specific expertise, ensuring each area is future proof, works operationally and as a unified concept.
NACO and Benthem Crouwel bring a long-standing collaboration at Schiphol, having worked together on the airport since 1988, through the Benthem Crouwel NACO (BCN) partnership. Based in Delft and Diemen respectively, the teams work integrally within a multidisciplinary setting, supporting Schiphol for decades on Schiphol projects such as terminal extensions and the delivery of an energy-neutral checkpoint. By combining extensive architectural experience with deep aviation sector expertise, the partners can tailor their approach and work flexibly to meet the needs of the wider consortium.
Tim van Vrijaldenhoven, Director of Airport Strategy and Planning at NACO, says: “NACO has over 75 years of experience working on over 750 airports around the world. Our in-depth understanding of airport processes and passenger behaviour and needs, along with our proven collaboration with leading architects, makes us the ideal partner to support Schiphol to deliver this complex project. This consultancy role harnesses our broad capabilities and enables us to act as a link between the airport and the architects.”
As consultants, NACO and Benthem Crouwel will provide advice on amongst others design, costs, and compliance, guiding the consortium to the delivery of functional, safe and united spaces that also live up to Schiphol’s environmental ambitions. Taking on the architectural roles will be KAAN Architects (lead architect), LVZJA (Luis Vidal + architects and ZJA), and Paul de Ruiter Architects.
Esther Kromhout, Managing Director at NACO, said: “I am delighted that we are continuing our long-standing collaboration with Schiphol through this appointment. By combining NACO’s specialist aviation sector knowledge with Benthem Crouwel Architecture’s insights, we can offer a flexible service to the wider consortium, ensuring that as a group we deliver Schiphol’s ambitions for a unified user experience.”
Pascal Cornips, Architect and Partner at Benthem Crouwel Architects, says: “We are proud to have been selected by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on this large-scale investment programme to improve quality and comfort at the airport. In collaboration with our longstanding partner NACO, we will continue to contribute our technical and airport-specific expertise - ensuring that passenger experience, functionality, and quality remain central to every project.”
