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An air traffic control complex was completed in June at Indianapolis International Airport. Three structures were built:
Air Traffic Control Tower: The 340-ft.-tall tower is reportedly the second tallest in the nation. The shaft is concrete and the upper levels are structural steel.
Tracon Base Building holds offices and air traffic control.
Engine Generator Building contains two engine generators that provide the facility with electricity if a power outage occurs.
The tower is the only one in the United States with a cab level roof that is supported by only one column. In addition, the tower elevator has a side mounted hoisting engine, also the only one of its kind in the country.
Controllers Get View
The largest obstacle for the design team was designing the tower's cab.
The one column supporting the cab allowed for glass to be installed without window mullions, therefore providing great sightlines for the air traffic controllers.
About 10 months into the project, a new building was added to the project to house the engine generators. Originally, the generators were to be installed in the basement of the Tracon Building.
The schedule was adjusted to incorporate these changes due to the procurement of the electrical systems. The generators can sustain the facility's electrical requirements for approximately eight to 10 hours.
The concrete was hoisted by crane and bucket because of the concrete mix and desire for white tower.
The tower shaft is approximately 260 ft. tall and 28 ft. in diameter with 18-in.-thick walls, and a mix of 7,500-psi white architectural concrete was used. The forms were about 9 ft. tall.
The access road for fire trucks in case of an emergency is made up of a grass pavement system designed to withstand the weight of trucks.
At one time, a creek went through the center of the project site, but the water was diverted before construction activities could begin. The system was designed around Environmental Protection Agency standards to avoid damage to the environment.
The facility's south side has a farm, which is part of the environmental design to divert water collected by the facility before it is introduced to the surrounding storm water system.
The jury said, "What an impressive addition the 340-ft.-tall tower is to the Midwest airport system. The mullion-less windows show good design. It must have been difficult to get the white panels to match."
Key Players
Owner:
Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee
General Contractor:
Hunt/Smoot Aviation Contractors Joint Venture, Indianapolis
Architect:
Teng & Associates, Chicago
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