Spaceport America

The world’s first private spaceport has been designed by Foster + Partners as part of an international collaboration led by UK firms.

Foster + Partners won an international design competition to build the New Mexico Spaceport Authority Building which will be used by Virgin Galactic. The creative masterminds at Foster + Partners worked to develop the shape of the building in the landscape and its interior spaces so as to capture the drama and mystery of space flight itself.

Making a minimal impact on the environment, it uses local materials and regional construction techniques, it is both sustainable and sensitive to its surroundings.

Organised into a highly efficient and rational plan, the Spaceport has been designed to relate to the dimensions of the spacecraft. There is also a careful balance between accessibility and privacy. The astronauts’ areas and visitor spaces are fully integrated with the rest of the building to convey the thrill of space travel.