Commercial Architecture October 2017 - 37

PROJECT

windows & doors

study by J.D. Power and Associates, "Happy passengers
are super spenders" and passengers with high airport satisfaction spend 45% more in their airport time than
those who aren't satisfied.
SMART GLASS CONTRIBUTES

While traditional blinds and motorized shades are the
most common tool airports use to regulate light, they
come with several drawbacks. Blinds must be manually raised and lowered, and motorized shades require
constant maintenance, which adds other tasks for busy
airport staff. Meanwhile, light conditions are constantly
changing and it's tough to always know when to close
blinds or shades. Most important, closed blinds and
shades obstruct the view and reduce the amount of natural light, which can make passengers feel even more
confined than they already do.
Smart glass is becoming a more attractive alternative
for leading airports as it allows seamless regulation of
natural light while maintaining open and unobstructed
views. Unlike traditional blinds, smart glass tints automatically in response to outdoor conditions, maximizing the amount of natural light that can be let in without
compromising the view. Smart glass supports these ef-

When completed in 2024, the Terminal 1 renovation at San Francisco International Airport will use 66,000 sq. ft. of dynamic glass to create a worldclass travel experience while achieving leadership in energy efficiency.

forts by also helping to improve energy efficiency by
better regulating building temperatures, reducing demand for heating and cooling.

enjoy exceptional views free from heat and glare as part

"Our goal is to set a new standard for passenger and
employee experience and operational flexibility. Incor-

of their club experience."
ELEVATING COMFORT AT SEA-TAC

porating dynamic glass at San Francisco International

The Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport is

SUSTAINABILITY AT SFO

Airport helps us achieve that design objective," said

the largest airport in the Pacific Northwest and the 28th

Another airport that is looking to increase sustainable

Kirsten Ritchie, sustainable design director and princi-

busiest airport in the world. In 2016, the facility served

design while enhancing comfort is San Francisco In-

pal at Gensler, San Francisco, the architectural firm lead-

more than 45-million passengers and is considered one

ternational Airport (SFO). The airport is the largest in

ing the project. "View Dynamic Glass is the ideal solu-

of the fastest growing airports in the country.

Northern California and the 23rd busiest airport in the

tion to improve the comfort and travel experience for

Delta Airlines, wanted its new Sea-Tac Delta Sky

world, serving more than 53-million passengers in 2016.

millions of passengers and thousands of SFO and airline

Club to establish a reputation for being a luxurious and

Servicing an area renowned for environmental sustain-

employees by bringing in more natural light into the ter-

relaxing space. This required using innovative, scalable

ability, with its current Terminal 1 renovation project,

minal, while minimizing glare and heat."

technologies such as dynamic glass. At 21,000 sq. ft., the

the airport established a goal of becoming a net-zero fa-

An assessment found that installing the smart glass

club ranks among the five largest facilities in the airline's

cility, meaning it would possess renewable energy sourc-

would help drive millions of dollars in economic bene-

system. It can comfortably seat as many as 400 custom-

es with a generation capacity that is equal to the airport's

fits when energy savings and increased customer com-

ers across two levels.

total energy consumption.

fort were factored in. In total, the project is expected to

The Sea-Tac club design uses 7,500 sq. ft. of View

In addition to investing in building energy efficiency

Inc., Milpitas, CA, smart glass, which allows members

to become the first LEED Gold-certified airport termi-

and guests to enjoy unobstructed views of Mount Rain-

nal in the United States, SFO evaluated other projects to

ier-the tallest mountain in Washington state-in a relax-

find technology that would help meet their environmen-

ing environment without unwanted glare or heat. Since

tal goals while extending Bay Area eco-culture into the

the installation was completed in late 2016, passengers

terminal to dazzle passengers. Two SFO architects chose

and Delta employees have been enthusiastic about how

View Dynamic Glass, which was also preferred by the

the glass helps increase their comfort during visits.

airport authority because it simplifies maintenance.

Claude Roussel, Delta Sky Clubs managing director,

The project, expected to be completed in 2024, will

said the dynamic glass has become an architectural

use 66,000 sq. ft. of dynamic glass to create a world-class

highlight for the club.

travel experience while achieving leadership in energy

"View Dynamic Glass is one of the Seattle Club's

efficiency. As part of a multi-pronged strategy to invest

architectural showpieces," stated Roussel. "Installing

in energy efficiency, the smart glass is expected to help

smart windows shows Delta's commitment to elevate

SFO reduce its energy requirements and significantly

our guest experience. We are excited for our guests to

simplify the terminal conditioning system.

drive $6 million in business benefits against a cost of $3
million. CA

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Watch a video about dynamic glass used at the
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Watch a video about using dynamic glass at the
Century Link Technology Center.

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OCTOBEER 2017

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

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