world news
Float glass in New York air terminal
An order for 20,000 sq. ft. of 15-mm thick float glass for the new BOAC passenger terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy international airport has been won by Pilkington Bros., Ltd., UK. Some 5,000 sq. ft. of 10 mm and 12 mm float glass is also included in the total order which weighs over 100 tons.
The 15 mm glass was called for because very large areas are being glazed with single panels which have to withstand high wind pressures. An ad- ditional load is imposed on the glass since the panels will lean forward at an angle of 60 degrees to the ground.
Architects, Gollins, Melvin, Ward & Partners, decided to use sloping glass panels to reduce glare and reflection when passengers look out. This is an extension of the principle used in aircraft con- trol towers but has not been applied on such a scale to any other airport buildings.
The terminal building will have arrival and de- parture levels with separate road access. Arrival facilities are situated beneath the departure con- course which is glazed from ground floor level to the 24 ft. high ceiling. A mezzanine, at the rear of the concourse, is also fully glazed. The departure concourse is 300 ft. long with a 10 ft. deep roof supported on two concrete encased steel piers 200 ft. apart. Freestanding galleries are situated on
three sides of the terminal buildings. Roadways for incoming and outgoing passengers' are on the fourth side. The total area of the complex is 350,000 sq. ft. on a 27 acre site.
In the departure concourse glazing is three panels deep, separated by two horizontal transomes at 10 ft. and 14 ft. 6 in. from the ground. Alumin- ium mullions are at 10 ft. 4 in. centres. Single panels are used where the mezzanine oversails the departure level. Compression gasket glazing is ap- plied throughout the complex. More than 50 of the 15 mm panels will exceed 12 ft. x 10 ft. in area. Trapezium shaped panels are used for corner glazing.
Rotterdam world trade centre
A completion date of 1972 has been set for Rotterdam's US$60 million World Trade Centre whose 10-acre complex will feature twin rectan- gular office towers rising to 475 ft.
The site will make use of abandoned docks at Leuve Haven waterfront. A plaza surrounding the towers will be 17 ft. above the water and the area below the plaza will contain parking space for 2,000 cars on two levels.
Apart from the twin towers, the project will include a 300-room hotel, an office pavilion for Rotterdam Port Authority, 280,000 sq.ft. of ex- hibition space, shops and restaurants. The twin towers will contain 1.2 million sq.ft. of office
space.
Financial backers of the scheme are Philips' Pension Fund, the Royal Dutch Shell Pensions Fund, and Rotterdam's municipal government. The architects are Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, USA.
Export partnership for UK building products
A number of British manufacturers specialising in the building trade have joined forces to market their products overseas at more competitive prices.
Eleven firms have been brought together by the
BOAC passenger terminal for John F. Kennedy airport, New York
Far East BUILDER, July 1969
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