The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a design by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) for new air traffic control towers that will be used at municipal and smaller airports.
Throughout the selection process, the FAA prioritised designs with standardised elements that would reduce construction and operational costs, while also allowing each building to be tailored to local climate and location factors.
PAU’s design was selected due to its fulfilment of key sustainability requirements and reduced construction and operational costs.
In addition, the flexibility of the design means that the tower’s height can be adjusted to meet each airport’s traffic and sightline requirements.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said:These new air traffic control towers will mean that smaller airports can handle more flights, more sustainably and more affordably. I look forward to seeing this design go from the drawing board to construction sites across the country, helping our nation’s airports support more travellers, grow their local economies and prepare for the future of low-carbon aviation.
The selected design incorporates key sustainability elements, including:
- All-electric building systems
- Materials free from chemicals known to pose health risks
- A thermally efficient façade
- High-recycled steel and metal products
- Renewable mass timber
- Ground-source heating and cooling in some environments.
Initially, 31 control towers that are functioning beyond their intended design life will be replaced with these newly designed structures, with groundbreaking expected to begin in 2024.
