A Revitalized Flying Experience
Marcy Marro, Managing Editor,
Posted
10/30/2012
Construction recently began on the new and improved
165,000-square-foot Terminal 1 at Raleigh-Durham International
Airport in Morrisville, N.C. Designed by Raleigh, N.C.-based Pearce
Brinkley Cease + Lee, the $68 million project is expected to be
completed in early 2014.
"Buildings that receive high use over an extended period of time
inevitably reach a point when rebranding needs to be considered,"
says Clymer Cease, AIA, PBC+L's principal in charge of the project.
"Such was the case with Terminal 1. The building has served as an
airport terminal since 1981. The last upgrade to the facility was
in 1991."
Visitors to Terminal 1 will encounter many changes
from the old, blue-paneled building that was completed in 1991. The
new, modern facility's updates start at the curbside, with a canopy
system that extends along the length of the building, providing
both shelter and a fresh architectural image for the building. For
the front elevation, the existing metal panels and curtainwall will
be replaced with an ordered composition of metal panels from Moon
Township, Pa.-based CENTRIA; translucent fiberglass panels from
Kalwall Corp., Manchester, N.H.; and a glass curtainwall from EFCO
Corp., Monett, Mo. The architects are specifying transparent and
translucent materials to create an open and light-filled
interior.
Designed as a single, large volume from one end to the other,
the new terminal will have a security mezzanine inserted into the
volume. The arrival side, which will house ticketing, security and
the baggage claim, will feature all new finishes, lighting,
furnishings and signage.
The tarmac-facing, or airside, façade also will be
completely rebuilt with a combination of metal panels and
curtainwall to provide open views and daylight for the interior. In
the concourse, large windows will provide a panoramic view of the
airfield, while a combination of sunscreens and roller shades will
control sunlight levels. The airside spaces, including bathrooms,
concession spaces, the nine-gate concourse and hold rooms, also
will receive all new finishes, lighting, furnishes and signage.
"The renovation of RDU Terminal 1 is dependent upon a variety of
metal products for the entire building envelope," notes Jeffrey
Lee, FAIA, design principal at PBC+L. "Chief among these is the
aluminum curtainwall and insulated metal wall panels. These
products were chosen for the precision and high tech image they
convey as well as for their longevity." Home to Southwest and
AirTran gates, the new terminal also will receive new stairs,
escalators, four new passenger elevators and original works of
art.
"Chief among the challenges for the new Terminal 1 was the
transformation of the existing building in support of the passenger
travel experience," Lee adds. "Both arrival and departure sequences
have been carefully considered and addressed in the design
solution."
Terminal 1, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Morrisville,
N.C.
Architect: Pearce
Brinkley Cease + Lee, Raleigh, N.C.
Construction manager at risk: D.H. Griffin-Balfour
Beatty, Greensboro, N.C., a joint venture between Balfour Beatty
and D.H. Griffin
Roller shades: TBD
Curtainwall/sunscreens: EFCO Corp., Monett, Mo., www.efcocorp.com
Metal wall panels: CENTRIA, Moon Township, Pa., www.centria.com/reimaginemetal
Translucent panels: Kalwall Corp., Manchester,
N.H., www.kalwall.com