Municipality of Yerevan made a clarification related to the permission of partial demolition of old (circular) building of Zvartnots airport.
The statement particularly says that circular overpass of the old terminal will be demolished, which is in ultimate limit state. The relevant permission was given to Armenia International Airports CJSC on December 24, 2015. The municipality gave an architectural- planning task, by which Armenia International Airports should be guided when developing design documentation on enlargement of Zvartnots and reconstruction of the old building.
Meanwhile, the municipality's decision made in December was a surprise for the Union of Armenian Architects, which learnt about it only yesterday. The Union responded negatively to the news on demolition of the old overpass as the architects stand for the maintenance of the old building.
Earlier the experts noted that the old building of Zvartnots along with Armenia's other complexes of strategic importance (NPP, a number of HPPS, Arpa-Sevan underpass) were constructed in compliance with the rules of safety and can stand earthquake of magnitude 9.
Working meeting on the issue of protection of the Zvartnots old building was held chaired by the President of Public Council Vazgen Manukyan. The attendants expressed their concerns noting that there are non- discussed variants of full maintenance of the building.
Manukayn instructed to hold large-scale discussions with involvement of all the interested sides in the upcoming days.
To recall, the terminal of Zvartnots Airport was built upon the project of architects A.Tarkhanyan, S.Khachikyan, L.Cherkezyan, Zh.Shekhlyan, A.Tigranyan, A.Meschyan and designer S.Baghdasaryan. It was put into operation in 1980. In June 2002 Zvartnots Airport was transferred to concession of Armenia International Airports CSJC owned by Argentinean entrepreneur Eduardo Eurnekian.
In 2013 Armenia International Airports CSJC made a statement that the old terminal presents a very dangerous structure and does not fit with modern aeronautical standards. The project on demolishing the building raised harsh criticism among architects, who noted that the building has historic value.
The concessionaire presented a new project in 2015 according to which the old building of Zvartnots will be kept partially. According to the project, only the control tower will be maintained while the old terminal will be demolished.