Where culture meets technology

Inspired by how technology and fashion could be hybridized to create an experience of both emotion and function, this airport seeks to investigate a synchronization of these two modes. The premise of the design came from a persona developed called the “Lady in Red.” Rather than being inspired by natural elements of the site’s ecology, the design of the airport stems from elements of character in New York City. Prideful yet gentle, courageous yet kind, the character design is based upon seeks to augment elements of emotion and personality that make New York City unique. The building systems act as an active approach to exhibiting the characteristics of the “Lady in Red” persona. The pride of the airport I believe stems from the way in which it orchestrates the movement of multiple different complex systems. The nature of the energy use and storage of the design comes from an integrated supercapacitor system that is carried by copper coils that glow red with activation (thus the use of “Red” in the persona inspiration.” Energy is harvested from PV cells embedded in the carbon fiber roof and stored within the carbon fiber skin of the building. To optimize the passenger movement through the building, a magnetic levitation pod system was designed on the second level to swiftly carry passengers from the main headhouse to their gates. The use of this pod system not only alleviates passage of people, but also eliminates the need for a sterile corridor for international travel.

Produced for the Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture Fall JFK T4 Concouse A Expansion Studio lead by Professor Hal Hayes