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