Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta is the world’s busiest, hosting more than 90 million travelers per year, including 10 million going to and from international destinations. So when it came to designing the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, planners not only wanted the new building to give passengers a pleasant respite from the stresses of modern air travel, but also to function as a wayfinding system that helped people from all over the world navigate its 1.2 million square feet of space.
For that reason, the architectural design of the terminal is characterized by sweeping metallic lines and curves that subtly guide passengers through the building while evoking a feeling of flight. The intuitive sense of flow is further heightened by the open, airy spaces inside the terminal and the abundant natural light that filters through its soaring glass walls. A total of 140,000 square-feet of metal panels and 100,000 square-feet of glass were used to complete the structure.
The exterior curtain wall of the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal features 264,000 pounds of aluminum extrusions painted with Duranar XL coatings by PPG. Photo: Chris Cunningham Photography
The exterior curtain wall was designed by Harmon Inc. and installed through a joint venture between Harmon and Ebony Glass & Mirror, with metal fabricated by Gardner Metal Systems. It contains 264,000 pounds of aluminum extrusions manufactured by PPG certified applicator, Keymark Corp. Nearly all of the extrusions are painted with Duranar XL 70-percent fluoropolymer coating.
Because it is chemically inert, the Duranar XL coating will enable the extruded panels to maintain their original metallic gray appearance throughout the life of the airport, even after decades of exposure to anticipated environmental stresses, such as chemical staining, acid rain, dirt and ultraviolet (UV) light.
Inside the terminal, Duracron coatings formulated in Bright White by PPG are used to frame wide expanses of glass and to complement the yellow walls and silver-gray columns that accentuate its sunny openness. As acrylic-based, spray-applied coatings, Duracron products are designed to meet American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2603 specifications. They are especially well-suited to resisting the impact, marring and damage that will result from the building’s high traffic volume.
Like all new construction commissioned by the city of Atlanta, the Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal was designed with a baseline goal of achieving an LEED® Silver certification level from the U.S. Green Building Council. It surpassed that goal and earned LEED Gold certification instead.
Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta
Owner: City of Atlanta
Architect/Designers: Corgan Associates, Dallas/Atlanta Gateway Designers (Gresham, Smith & Partners and Duckett Design Group)
PPG Products: Duranar® XL coatings/Duracron® coatings
PPG Certified Applicator: Keymark Corp., Lakeland, Fla.
Metal Fabricator: Gardner Metal Systems, Acworth, Ga.
Curtain Wall Design: Harmon, Inc., Minneapolis
Curtain Wall Installation: Harmon, Inc., Minneapolis/Ebony Glass & Mirror, Decatur, Ga.
For more information on Duranar, Duracron and other architectural coatings from PPG, including infrared-reflective Duranar ULTRA-Cool® and color-shifting Duranar VARI-Cool® technologies, call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332) or visit www.ppgideascapes.com.
Duracron, Duranar, IdeaScapes, and the PPG logo are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
