Reading Façade Chep Lap Kok Airport

Guided by Professor Francesca Madeo

Presented by Raymond|Will|Avinash|

1

BACKGROUND

Aviation has been playing an

important role in contributing

to the economic growth of

Hong Kong. Due to the rapid

growing economy in the 90s,

the capacity of Kai Tak Airport

was insufficient for the

soaring demand. Aspired to

transform the city into an

international transportation

hub, Hong Kong Airport

Authority realized that an

airport serving the 21st

century’s needs would be the

necessary admission ticket

and thus conceived a

masterplan for Chep Lap Kok

Airport. Growing out of the

masterplan, the terminal

building was much more than

just arrival and departure

halls, but a collection of

individual buildings that were

connected conveniently

under the same roof.

GLASS WALL

The 1.2 km airport terminal

building was the world's

single largest building.

Sophisticated and

dimensionally precise steel

roof, comprising 129

modules.

Average weight of 130

tonnes and 36m x 36m.

Structural form consisting

of arched vaults.

The assembly yard was set

up in an area 0.5km

northwest of the central

concourse.

Appointment: 1992

Completion: 1998

Area: 516 000m²

Height: 34m

Capacity: 35000000

Client: Hong Kong Airport Authority

Architect : Foster+ Partners

Collaborating Architect: Anthony Ng Architects Ltd. (Ground Transportation Centre only)

Structural Engineer: Ove Arup and Partners/Mott Connell

Quantity Surveyor: WT Partnership

Landscape Architect: Urbis Travers Morgan Ltd.

Lighting Engineer: Fisher Marantz Renfro Stone.

General layout of the airport look like the wing of airplane

QUICK FACTS ROOFING

Departure levels is

surrounded by glass wall.

A series of high bow back

mullions, which varying in

height to a maximum of

23m to support the curtain

wall system.

Weatherproof with good

acoustics.

The glass features a

laminated film sandwiched

between two layers of glass

to reflect the sunlight.

Glass Curtain Wall:

- Curtain Wall System: Stick System

- Max. Structural Span: 36m

- Max. Height :23m

- Subdivided modules size: 3m x 2m

Construction Sequences:

1. Installation of mullions (Front

Chord)

2. Installation of Transoms

3. Installation of pre-assembled glass

panels

17.5mm Laminated Glass

consists of:

- 8mm Grey Tinted Glass

- 1.52mm PVB Interlayer

- 8mm K Glass (Low-E coating)

- Reflective Coating

The Components of Curtain Wall consist of:

- Mullions (120mm x 80mm R.H.S Steel)

- Transoms (120mm x 80mm R.H.S Steel)

- Back Chord ( 114mm C.H.S Steel)

The diagonal Members of the trusses were omitted to

minimize light obstruction.

The “Floating Roof” was design to cater for large

vertical,lateral and thermal movement.

It consists of:

- An armature system with slotted brackets and

spigot

- A pin-ended arm which allows for +-175mm

vertical movement

- A lower sliding joint which allows for

+-120mm horizontal movement

Glass delamination along the edge of the

glass with approximately 300mm were found

during site visit.

Causes of Delamination:

- The PVB Interlayer exposed to air

- The unmatched roller-wave shape of

the glasses

- Low-e coating cause thermal

difference on heating process

- Obsolete PVB used

Glass Balustrade:

- 1.5m vertical span

- Glass supported by two sides only

(one-way)

- 10mm thk. Monolithic tempered

glass

Load Transfer Mechanism:

1. Glass Pane (one-way)

2. Upper and lower transoms

3. Cantilever mullions

4. Concrete Slab

Glass Panes Details:

- Glass connected to adaptor

through structural sealant

- Setting blocks used to support

the dead load of glass

- Backer rod and weather sealant

applied to the joints

- Adaptors connected through

bolts