NEW YORK–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that the new 233-foot tall air traffic
control tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest
airports in the United States, is clad in Alcoa’s lightweight Reynobond®
aluminum composite material panels.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey commissioned Jacobs of Arlington, Virginia, to design a
new, modern air traffic control tower for LaGuardia Airport to replace
the existing air traffic control tower, cab and base building. The old
tower was constructed in 1962. The new tower raises the control cabin
about 70 feet above the old one, giving the air traffic controllers an
unobstructed 360-degree view of runways and taxi areas. The new tower
will become operational this fall.
“We specified metal for the tower because it is lightweight, durable,
and versatile and virtually maintenance free,” said Stephen Wakeman,
design principal of Jacobs. “Aesthetically, the Reynobond ACM cladding
ties the tower to the other metal-clad buildings within the airport
complex.”
To increase the subtlety of the tower, the cabin was clad in a custom
blue shade panel, which virtually fades into the sky. Platinum and grey
velvet accents were used on the soffits and fin panels. These panels
required a one-inch piece of composite welded along the perimeter, since
the panels are conical shape and need finished corners.
“Versatile Alcoa architectural products, such as Reynobond®, are
particularly suitable for achieving unique designs on building façades
and interiors. Architects and specifiers find they have greater control
over the finished appearance of their projects when working with the
Alcoa family of products,” said Sid Peterson, Vice President, Sales and
Marketing for Alcoa Architectural Products.
Alcoa Architectural Products offers a complete range of exterior and
interior cladding and corporate identity solutions, Products include the
new Reynobond Face Fastened Installation System and Colorweld®500
finish with the industry’s first 30-year warranty, as well as innovative
materials such as Anodized Reynobond ACM, Reynobond Wood Grain ACM and
Reynobond with KEVLAR®. Also available are the classic Reynobond ACM,
Reynobond Natural Metal, and Reynolux® profiled panels and flat sheet
materials. Alcoa Architectural Products is a business unit of Alcoa, the
world’s leading producer of aluminum products.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated
aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum
industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the
aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years and approximately
75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.