The Velana International Airport Expansion Project in the Maldives, built by CHEC, was named Best Project in the Airport/Port category of Engineering News-Record (ENR)'s 2026 Global Best Projects competition.

Founded in 1874, ENR is one of the most authoritative publications in global engineering and construction.

The Velana International Airport is the Maldives' main international aviation gateway, handling over 90 percent of the country's arriving and departing passengers. The expansion added a new terminal and an affiliated energy center, with a combined floor area of 78,000 square meters.

Designed to serve 8 million passenger trips a year, the new terminal runs more efficiently thanks to an upgraded baggage handling system and streamlined passenger flows. On average, passengers now spend over 40 minutes less on check-in and waiting.

The project's green, low-carbon, ecology-first approach has also won professional certification and industry recognition. The new terminal has been awarded a LEED gold rating, the first large transport building in the Maldives to earn that rating. The project also received the American Academy of Project Management (AAPM)'s 2026 Award for Green Project Management Best Practice.

The terminal now uses 25 percent less electricity per square meter than comparable terminals and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by about 1,850 tonnes a year. The utilization rate of non-conventional water sources exceeds 30 percent. The project sets a benchmark for green, low-carbon construction of large-scale infrastructure on islands.