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THE ITALIAN LEGACY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
448
Punta Cana International Airport Milestones
Sustainability within PUNTACANA
8
International Airport
The terminal was designed with cost and expense savings in mind.
The first terminal lacked electricity and had an open design, to
make the most of natural lighting, as well as eliminate the need
for air conditioning.
The lumber and rocks that were cleared to build the runway
were recycled. The airport’s design made use of locally sourced
materials in its construction.
Local equipment and labor was used. It was more affordable
to work with local residents than to bring in people to such a re-
mote region.
The preservation of local plant life was necessary. In an area with such rocky ground and general lack of
rain, it was more affordable to preserve what greenery already existed, rather than create new gardens.
PCIA, a sustainable airport. In 1984, for purely financial concerns, we unknowingly inaugurated an airport
designed in line with the principles of sustainability.
Lessons on sustainability through first-hand experience. The need to overcome a lack of resources taught
us our first big lesson about the advantages of sustainability.
The PCIA grew while continuing to practice sustainability. We grew from 84, 000 passengers to 1.5 million
while continuing to implement these practices.
Cost savings. To illustrate just how much is saved, we had to build a closed terminal in 2003 due to market
considerations. This terminal consumes 150,000 kw/h every month, which represents 20% of the airport’s
total power consumption.
The airport’s growth necessitated expansions, with Terminal B’s construction being one of the most sig-
nificant. The finalized structure masterfully combined modern airport design with Punta Cana’s signature
thatched roofing, which preserved the freshness of the Caribbean setting.
ENDNOTES
1
This piece is based on the forthcoming work by José Chez
Checo and Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben,
Un Sueño Hecho Realidad.
Los Primeros 45 Años del Grupo Puntacana
. Work commissioned by
Grupo Puntacana, 2016.
2
Antonio Elizade and Eduardo Yentzen,
“
Hacia un Rescate de
Utopías y Sueños Colectivos,
”
POLIS
,
Revista Latinoamericana
,
no. 6 (2003),
journals.openedition.org/polis/6416.Accessed Au-
gust 14, 2020.
3
Ibid
.
4
Ibid
.
5
See Frank R. Rainieri, “La Alternativa Dominicana: El Turis-
mo,” (speech) 1983.
6
There was a revolt, and people rose up in protest. The unrest
ended with 250 deaths.
7
GPC, Grupo Puntacana S. A., 25 years of GPC archives.
8
Notes prepared for Frank Rainieri Marranzini’s participa-
tion in the V Americas Competitiveness Forum, October 7,
2011.
Inside the terminal
at Punta Cana Airport.
© Grupo Puntacana,
All rights reserved