Edinburgh Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower
Edinburgh, Scotland
REID architecture

Zinc clad tower makes bold statement on Edinburgh skyline

© Hufton & Crow

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At 187 feet tall, the new Edinburgh Air Traffic Control Tower is visible from across the city of Edinburgh and surrounding Lothian district. The British Airport Authority commissioned it to serve the business and operational needs of the airport and National Air Traffic Services—and to make a significant architectural statement on the skyline.

REID architecture designed the base building and tower as a combined homogeneous form in order to meet the constraints of a tight site and security issues posed by the tower’s location on the main airport access road. This combination produced a much stronger visual form and enhanced structural integrity. The tower’s circular floor plate, pierced through the middle by the shaft, provides maximum floor area while requiring only a minimum amount of wall cladding; moreover, since all distances within the floor plate are equal, it requires only one escape staircase.

The architect chose zinc shingles to clad the tower because this material requires minimal maintenance. Drainage channels integrated into the cladding control rainwater help reduce weathering. REID determined the shingle and channel layout, which follows an origami-like diamond pattern, with the aid of drafting software. A recessed gutter and a continuous lighting slot, located at the parapet level, also provide areas for water intake and extract.

Alifabs, which made the visual control room, prefabricated and assembled the cab components in its factory before disassembling them and transporting them to site. Factory prefabrication produced tighter tolerances and reduced on-site erection time. The cab’s glass cladding was stored in the visual control room while it was assembled. After the roof and remaining structure were craned into position, workers installed the glass from the inside, providing a weather-tight enclosure for the remaining interior fit out.

Formal name of Project:
Edinburgh Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower

Location:
Edinburgh, Scotland

Total construction cost:
$17 Million

Owner:
BAA Edinburgh Airport
Tenant: National Air Traffic Services

Architect:
REID architecture
West End House
11 Hills Place
London W1F 7SE
44-207-297-5600 tel.
44-207-297-5601 fax
www.reidarchitecture.com