Colt solar shading system offers New Doha International Airport a ‘cool’ new perspective
Since it is the only commercial airport in Qatar, the current Doha International Airport suffers from over-utilization. The capacity of the airport stands at 12 million passengers per year and even though the airport has been expanded numerous times it still struggles to cope with the demand, which is now nearing 14 million passengers per year. To seek to alleviate this problem the existing airport will be replaced towards the end of 2012 when the first phase of New Doha International Airport is expected to open. When it opens the New Doha International Airport will become the fourth largest airport in the world, covering 2,200 hectares of land (a big difference from the fifth largest airport which is JFK International and which covers 1,620 hectares).
Colt worked very closely with HOK Architects in both San Francisco and New York to match the client’s demands. This meant achieving both an aesthetic and functional solar shading solution for this very large terminal building in the desert. Colt was chosen as the only company able to meet these demands and a controllable Shadoglass system LS4 was selected as the most visually pleasing and effective solution.
Louvres automatically controlled so as to maximise light entry and to minimise solar heat gain
The installation of Shadoglass LS4 louvre system to the exterior of the building offered many benefits apart from its aesthetic value; the louvre will allow for a large reduction of solar heat gain into the building which given the desert location of the airport would allow for more comfortable conditions within the building. The reduction of solar heat gain entering the building would also have the resulting effect of reducing the amount of air conditioning used thus reducing future costs for the airport.
The new Terminal Building consists of 4 phases, the South Node, Concourse C, the North Node (Hub) and the North Node Extension. Their combined cost after completion will be an estimated 7 billion US dollars. Colt has now supplied solar shading for both the South Node and Concourse C, consisting of a total of approximately 11,400 square metres of Shadoglass worth nearly €8.5m.
Phases 3 & 4 are due in November 2010 and 2012 respectively, which will consist of approximately the same quantity and value of equipment as the previous stages.
Testing of the newly installed Shadoglass Louvre System
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