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Date: October 11, 2016
Contact:�Ian Gregor
Email:� ian.gregor@xxxxxxx
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Federal Aviation Administration, San Francisco
International Airport Dedicate New Airport Traffic Control Tower
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SAN
FRANCISCO � FAA Administrator Michael Huerta joined local officials today in
dedicating the new, environmentally friendly airport traffic control tower at
San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
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Rising up in a graceful flare,
the new tower is 221 feet tall. �The 650 square-foot controller work area gives
air traffic controllers unobstructed 235-degree views of SFO�s runways and
taxiways.
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Under a unique partnership, the
FAA and SFO shared the cost of the project. �The FAA paid for the costs associated with
building the tower itself. �SFO paid for
the costs associated with integrating the tower into the existing airport complex,
as well as the facility�s striking design features. �SFO also supervised the design and
construction work.
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�This
project created an iconic, modern tower that provides critical safety benefits
for the tens of millions of people who pass through this airport each year,�
said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. ��In addition, it put many Bay Area residents
to work in well-paying jobs � more than 2,000 workers contributed more than 500,000
labor hours to this project.�
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�Completing this
key infrastructure investment required a true collaboration between the FAA and
SFO,� said FAA Administrator Michael
Huerta. ��The end product reflects not only
our passion for safety, but also our shared belief that investment
and environmental responsibility are intertwined. �This project is a shining example of our
efforts to minimize our environmental footprint.�
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�San Francisco is a City of Innovation, and the new
airport traffic control tower at SFO reflects this spirit,� said San Francisco
Mayor Ed Lee. ��Seismically sound, environmentally
sustainable, and iconic in design, this new facility is truly a beacon for our
gateway to the world.�
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�This new airport traffic control tower stands as a
tribute to our partnership with the FAA,� said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero.
��This project represents the first-ever
collaboration of its kind between an airport and the FAA to construct a new
tower. �The result is a masterpiece,
replete with cutting-edge safety engineering, advanced technology, and the
visual dynamism to represent SFO for decades to come. �I truly appreciate the vision, dedication, and
teamwork that made this exceptional facility possible.��
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The new tower was necessary
because the old tower did not meet current seismic standards, and retrofitting
the 32 year-old building was not feasible. �The new tower is designed to withstand a
magnitude 8.0 earthquake.
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Located between Terminals 1 and
2, the tower features a 147 foot-tall ribbon of glass running down the middle
of the structure. �The glass reflects
sunlight during the day and is illuminated by interior lighting at night.
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The
project also includes a three-story, 44,000 square-foot base building, which
houses administrative offices, computer equipment, a backup generator, and
secure corridors that allow passengers to transit between terminals without
affording access to the tower.
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New
air traffic control equipment in the controller work area includes a
state-of-the-art ground radar system and touch-screen displays for weather and
airfield status information. �By the end
of the year, the ground radar will link to Runway Status Lights, which are similar
to stop lights that tell pilots when it is unsafe to enter a runway or to take
off.
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A host of green environmental
features earned the project LEED Gold status from the U.S. Green Building
Council.� These include solar panels
installed on a nearby building roof; natural daylight in offices and the public
lobby; a roof garden and reflective roofing, which reduce heat gain from the
roof; low-flow plumbing fixtures; recycled
building materials; an electric vehicle charging station; and energy efficient
mechanical and electrical equipment.
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The
FAA�s share of the project cost was about $82 million. �SFO�s share was about $69 million for
integrating the tower into the existing airport complex, which included the
materials for the building facade and the exterior LED lighting array.
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Construction on the new tower
began in June 2012.� The FAA will start
using the facility on October 15, 2016.
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SFO
was the nation�s 11th busiest airport in 2015 with about 430,000
takeoffs and landings.
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