SFO Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement

Known colloquially as the “Gateway to the Pacific,” SFO is a world-class airport that serves approximately 41 million passengers annually.

While this new control tower is a signature design element for the airport, the architectural vocabulary also borrows from the existing airport complex.  For example, the twisting façade shares color, massing, and materials with the neighboring passenger terminal.  Likewise, the cab—or portion of the tower in which air traffic controllers operate—features clear, laminated, and seamless glass to both maximize controllers’ views.

In addition to the control tower, the project also includes an office facility at the tower’s base. Fentress’ design for this “integrated facility” presents a radical alternative to historic precedent.  In contrast to compartmentalization, the FAA’s new open office environment encourages interaction and collaboration.  Similarly, a courtyard and green roof provide much needed open space for staff to rest between shifts.  After all, air traffic control is among the the world’s most stressful occupations.

Two connector corridors—one post-security, the other pre-security—are also a part of the project, and connect passenger-accessible parts of the concourse.

Resilient Design

The control tower incorporates a post-tension system that will not sway with wind loads.  Furthermore, it is also designed to withstand seismic events of magnitude 8.0.