ROOFING , CLADDING & FAÇADES
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE WORLD ’ S LARGEST HANGAR
A large new hangar for American Airlines has been completed at Chicago ’ s O ’ Hare International Airport using Kalwall ® translucent cladding to provide natural daylight to form signature ‘ light bars ’ at each end .
The hangar cost $ 251million and was designed by architects Ghafari Associates . At over 185 metres long , 90 metres wide and 36 metres high , it took almost three years to build and is the longest clear-span , dual entry aircraft hangar in the world .
The clever use of Kalwall means that natural diffused daylight is transmitted deep into the interior space . At the same time , it provides security and additional thermal insulation , thereby reducing the reliance on HVAC systems and artificial lighting . In addition , the Kalwall minimises light pollution out of the building and stops the sun reflecting off the surface . These were both important considerations because the building is sited near busy operating runways . These aspects also helped the new hangar win an honourable mention in the 2019 Airports Going Green Awards .
Aesthetically , the Kalwall also works well on this project . The lightweight panels fit seamlessly with the building ’ s primary steel supports , which positively impacted the bottom line since there was no need for a secondary structural system . The ‘ shoji ’ pattern of the Kalwall grid also marries up with the exterior cladding and shutter doors giving the whole building a sense of uniformity .
Kalwall , exclusively available in the UK and Ireland from Structura UK , is a popular choice for all types of building around the world . In the UK , it has also been used for several airport projects including Heathrow , Gatwick and Glasgow . The cladding ’ s inherent strength and heavy duty impact resistance make it ideal for secure locations . U-values as low as 0.28W / m2K , equivalent to a cavity-filled solid wall , can be achieved by including translucent silica aerogel within the panels . Options such as explosion venting and blast resistance can be incorporated as required .
Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd on tel : 01233 501 504 or by visiting www . structura-uk . com / kalwall
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