Florianópolis Airport has become in recent summers one of Brazil¿s main destinations for national and international tourists. With capacity of 1.2 million users a year, in 2003 it received 1.28 million passengers.

The current passenger terminal has become modest for a city growing as quickly as Florianópolis. For this reason, the city will shortly receive a new airport able to serve 2.7 million passengers a year.

The architectural design of the new airport was chosen by a public competition held by Infraero in partnership with the Brazilian Architects Institute (IAB). This was the first time Infraero has employed a public competition to choose an airport terminal design.

Normally the projects for expansion and modernization of the 66 airports administered by Infraeor are done by public tender based on the needs, criteria and conditions presented by the company¿s engineering area.

Among the over 150 original entries, the proposal of São Paulo architect Mário Bizelli was chosen. Begun in March 2004, the entries were first narrowed down to 71 designs actually presented, from which three finalists were shortlisted. The designs of Marcelo Consiglio Barbosa and Sérgio Parada were classified in second and third places respectively.

The construction work will be tendered in 2005 and should be finished in two years.