The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioned Virginia-based construction service provider Jacobs to design a new, modern air traffic control tower for LaGuardia Airport. The new tower replaces the 1962-built existing air traffic control tower, cab and base building.
The newly constructed tower raises the control cabin about 70ft above the old one. This helps in offering an unobstructed 360-degree view of runways and taxi areas to air traffic controllers. The new tower will become operational by late 2010.
Jacobs specified metal for the tower since it is lightweight, durable, versatile and maintenance free. According to Wakeman, design principal of Jacobs, the Reynobond ACM cladding aesthetically ties the tower to the other metal-clad buildings within the airport complex.
The cabin has been fully clad in a custom blue shade panel that virtually fades into the sky, enhancing the subtlety of the tower. Platinum and grey velvet accents are used on the soffits and fin panels. These panels required a one-inch piece of composite welded along the perimeter, since the panels have tapering shape and need finished corners.
Alcoa Architectural Products offers a complete range of exterior and interior cladding and corporate identity solutions.
