Federal Aviation Administration Announces New Sustainable Design for Future Air Traffic Control Towers Utilizing Mass Timber

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday (4-21-23) that it has selected a new sustainable design for future air traffic control towers. The design will be used primarily to replace towers still in use but beyond their intended design life at municipal and smaller airports in the US.

Designed by New York-based Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), the new towers meet key sustainability requirements. The tower height can be adjusted to meet each airport’s specific traffic and sightline requirements, while also reducing construction and operational costs.

The FAA says the design has key sustainability elements incorporated into the design, including:

• Renewable mass timber when usable
• All-electric building systems
• Materials and products free from chemicals known to pose health risks
• Thermally efficient façade
• High-recycled steel and metal products
• Ground-source heating and cooling in some environments

According to the press release, the initial set of 31 control towers will replace towers that are functioning beyond their intended design life. The new towers will range in height from 60 to 119 feet. The FAA has set aside more than $500 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support site evaluation, preparation, and early construction activity. The first groundbreaking is expected to occur in 2024.