SOM tops Kansas Metropolis airport with large timber-clad cover
Worldwide structure studio SOM has accomplished a terminal for Kansas Metropolis Worldwide Airport that options a big wood-clad cover.
The SOM-designed terminal opened final week in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, changing a three-terminal construction that served as town’s major airport since 1972. It contains a two-storey construction with airline services, gates and concourses. Every of the degrees has entry to a curb for motorist pick-ups and drop-offs.
“As the most important single infrastructure mission within the historical past of Kansas Metropolis, the brand new LEED Gold terminal will considerably enhance passenger capability with a design deeply knowledgeable by residents all through town,” stated SOM.
“The town issued a decision calling for the terminal to be ‘essentially the most accessible on the earth’, a objective that turned a guideline for the design.”
The terminal was designed to accommodate the rising site visitors of the airport, rising its capability from 3.8 to 11 million passengers per yr. In keeping with the studio, the design permits for the terminal to be expanded additional, from its present 39 gates to 50.
It has an I-shaped design with expansive glazing wrapping the doorway space for the check-in areas. A hemlock-clad overhang, supported by a sequence of “structurally expressive” Y-beams, shades the departure space.
The hemlock of the overhang extends inside to create, together with the terrazzo flooring, a “heat” expertise for individuals in transit.
The arrival space includes a large limestone wall, in addition to an set up by artist Nick Cave manufactured from 1000’s of vibrant wind spinners.
So as to meet the accessibility targets set by the native authorities, SOM positioned all points of the departure space on one degree, from check-in to gate, to keep away from reliance on stairs and escalators.
All the desks and points-of-contact have been set to wheelchair peak.
As well as, the airport labored with the studio to create house for what it calls The Kansas Metropolis Air Journey Expertise – a simulator that “will give passengers who’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable with air journey the prospect to ‘check run’ within the days earlier than a visit”.
This simulator features a full-sized mannequin of an aeroplane cabin that will probably be put in within the terminal.
The decrease degree of the constructing options the bags declare and customs and has an out of doors public backyard.
SOM additionally famous that the airport “has targets in place to run on renewable power sooner or later” by putting in a photo voltaic farm on the positioning. It was constructed with domestically sourced supplies.
“Lots of the supplies have been sourced domestically, and its wooden finishes are FSC-certified,” stated added SOM.
“The grasp plan additionally features a complete conservation technique that maintains native timber and grasses from KCI’s unique development.”
Different airport initiatives designed by well-known structure studios embrace Foster + Companions’ upcoming King Salman airport in Riyadh and MAD’s feather-like terminal for an airport in China.
The pictures is by Lucas Blair Simpson.
