New control tower for Newcastle Airport

Newcastle International Airport has announced plans for a new £8.2M control tower, as part of its on-going redevelopment programme. The tower will be the latest in a line of control towers that have been built in steel

The 46m-high steel tower has been designed by Reid Architecture, following an industry competition. The project is currently out to tender, although Arup has been awarded the contract for all structural and engineering work.

Reid Architecture said the proposal is for a single tower construction of circular plan form. The tower expands to encompass the high level of accommodation in an integrated unit at the top and splays out to house the base building facilities in a unified geometry at the bottom.

Peter Farmer, team leader at Reid Architecture said: “To harmonise the relatively large elements at the top and bottom of the tower, compared to the narrow stem, and to protect the plant, staircase and service risers, a net of stainless steel tension wires is proposed.”

“Each strand of mesh is straight but the effect of the full pattern is to create a curved profile to the tower.”

The circular base-building geometry, compared with linear or square options, is said to generate significant cost savings: base-building footprint – 7% saving; circulation – 32% saving; wall surface area – 36% saving; roof area – 65% saving.

Construction work is expected to begin in April/May 2006 and completion has been set for late 2007.