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Australia and New Zealand Aviation Follow at Populous Strengthened by Famend Transport Design Professional
Monday, February 10, 2025
Matt Findlay will leverage his intensive expertise in Populous’ world stadia tasks alongside his experience in terminal design to craft human-centric passenger areas, the place moments of connection will be shared, very similar to within the seating bowl of a sports activities occasion or live performance.
With over 30 years of architectural expertise, Matt has labored on high-profile aviation tasks throughout the Asia Pacific (APAC), specializing in business and retail design.
As a Principal Designer and the ANZ Head of Aviation at Populous, Matt has overseen the design of terminal, operations, and cargo amenities, from regional airports to main worldwide hubs.
His design philosophy facilities round shaping airport terminals from the within out, making certain the constructing displays the person’s expertise.
“Airports are all about people. The passenger experience within the terminal environment is a primary factor in an airport’s success so the design focus needs to go beyond the statement the building makes upon arrival and extend into the terminal itself,” Mr Findlay stated.
“Airports are not like many different buildings due to the feelings they carry – from busy and annoying enterprise travellers to elated and joyful vacation makers. The terminal has a task to play in growing or reducing these feelings.
“Passenger-led insights are essential in guiding the way I design with a homogeneous synergy between all functions, spatial elements and activities that create exteriors that transport people into the local culture and interiors that are immersive connections to their destination.”
Based mostly out of Populous’ Melbourne, Australia studio, Matt has held a number of management positions within the mission, govt, shopper administration and enterprise improvement phases for main airport tasks throughout the area.
Populous’ Co-Managing Director, APAC Richard Breslin stated Matt’s transport background would praise the Aviation staff’s passenger-focused providing to shoppers.
“We are excited that Matt has joined us. With our aviation business continuing to expand, Matt brings an intimate understanding of the sector that marries so seamlessly with our strong sports history of bringing people together in the places they love to be,” Mr Breslin stated.
FROM A PROCESS TO AN EXPERIENCE – REDEFINING THE MODERN TERMINAL
Matt believes that design parts, usually present in sports activities and leisure industries, can remodel the passenger expertise. By making use of these ideas, he envisions a contemporary, untapped business ecosystem for airport operators.
“Kansai International Airport in Japan is in the process of reconfiguring the domestic and international areas, including moving landside and airside boundaries to meet growth in visitation, new traveller profiles as well as make the terminal experience more free-flowing and enjoyable for everyone. New and expanded retail offerings, better and larger amenities, ease of processing, tailored passenger journeys and crafted spatial experiences are at the centre of decreasing stress and increasing passenger joy,” Mr Findlay stated.
When each side of the airport ecosystem is designed to information individuals in probably the most pure approach, it creates a seamless movement that feels easy, finally making passenger processing smoother and extra environment friendly for operators.
Mr Findlay stated similarities between this strategy and Populous designed sports activities parks reminiscent of Kai Tak Sports activities Park, which can open in Hong Kong in March, are clear to see.
“Inviting public spaces were prioritised right from the early stages of the design of the Sports Park, emphasising side-by-side user experience and commercial opportunities,” Mr Findlay stated.
“This not only encourages repeat visits, but it ensures that venue operators are able to guide visitors seamlessly to the specific locations in the Park where they will derive the most value for themselves and operators.”
POPULOUS’ AVIATION PRACTICE
Populous’ APAC Aviation staff is at present overseeing the redevelopment of Kansai Worldwide Airport, one of many world’s most original and delightful transport hubs, set to open in March 2025 forward of the Osaka Expo in Japan. Current tasks additionally embrace Clark Worldwide Airport within the Philippines, which was honored with the Prix Versailles World’s Most Stunning Airport award in 2023.
In recent times, Populous has broadened its focus to designing areas the place individuals love to collect, increasing past stadia, arenas, and conference facilities to incorporate transport infrastructure.
Populous’ aviation follow is a pure extension of the agency’s experience: creating distinctive buyer experiences that foster development for our shoppers. The agency gives a variety of providers, together with structure, planning, inside design, public artwork choice, wayfinding, graphics, branding, and expertise integration, reworking airports into locations in their very own proper.
