TWA FLIGHT CENTRE,NEW YORK MUHAMMAD AZ-SYAWAL DANIAL BIN MOHAMAD AZLIN NUR SYAZWANI SAFWAH BINTI MD MAHALLI DCA40163 - ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES LECTURER : PUAN FARAH REEZA BINTI ABDUL RAZAK SHELL STRUCTURE SYSTEM CASE STUDY
TWA FLIGHT CENTER IDEA CONCEPT BUILDING PROCESS BUILDING STRUCTURE MATERIAL CONCLUSION REFERENCES THE AUTHORS THE ARCHITECT LOAD ANALYSIS SHELL STRUCTURE SYSTEM CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6-8 9 10-12 13 14
MUHAMMAD AZ-SYAWAL DANIAL BIN MOHAMAD AZLIN 01DSB21F2035 NUR SYAZWANI SAFWAH BINTI MD MAHALLI 01DSB21F2060 AUTHORS 1
THE ARCHITECT Eero Saarinen The luminary architect at the helm of the JFK Airport terminal project, was born in Finland in 1910 into a family deeply entrenched in the world of design and architecture. Renowned architect Eero Saarinen, celebrated for his avantgarde approach, led a team that crafted an architectural gem at JFK Airport. Saarinen's illustrious career included a myriad of groundbreaking designs, with perhaps his most iconic being the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. This soaring stainlesssteel monument exemplifies his commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and engineering. The team's collective expertise encompasses an array of styles, notably including the influential mid-century modern movement. Gateway Arch in St. Louis. 2
TWA FLIGHT CENTER 3 Name: TWA Flight Center Architect: Eero Saarinen Year: In 1962 Located at: John F. Kennedy International Airport ,New York City Designed by Eero Saarinen, the TWA Flight Center stands as an architectural masterpiece, epitomizing mid-century modern innovation. Architectural Marvel: A pioneering example of thin-shell construction, the reinforced concrete shell roof, supported at its corners, showcases Saarinen's engineering prowess. Innovation: The terminal's design exudes futuristic elegance with sweeping curves and a distinctive wing-like roof, reminiscent of mid-century modern architecture. Futuristic Elegance: Incorporating elements of Futurist, Neo-futurist, Googie, and Fantastic architectural styles, the TWA Flight Center is a unique blend of aesthetics that defies conventional categorization. Blend of Styles:
The terminal's shape draws inspiration from the curvature of a grapefruit rind. Saarinen's hallmark ability to incorporate natural forms creates a harmonious connection between the built environment and nature. Organic Inspiration: Seamless passenger flow was a primary consideration in the design. Interconnected, curvilinear spaces and the absence of traditional structural barriers create an open and fluid layout. Spatial Fluidity: IDEA DESIGN The design features sweeping curves and clean lines reminiscent of mid-century modern architecture. The wing-like roof structure and absence of traditional columns contribute to its futuristic and graceful appearance. Futuristic Elegance: Thin-shell construction with a unique roof structure supported at corners demonstrates engineering creativity. Interconnected shells and curvilinear columns are strategically balanced for both structural stability and architectural beauty. Structural Innovation: 4
BUILDING PROCESS Eero Saarinen and his team worked on creating a vision that would seamlessly blend aesthetics and functionality. 1956-1958: Design Phase The groundbreaking marked the transition from design to actualization, as the architects and construction teams brought Saarinen's innovative vision to life. 1959-1962: Construction Begins The terminal became operational, serving as a hub for TWA (Trans World Airlines) and an iconic symbol of mid-century modern architecture. 1962: TWA Flight Center Opens Following TWA's financial struggles, the airline ceased operations, and the Flight Center closed its doors in 2001. 2001: Closure and Preservation Efforts Begin the TWA Hotel opened, breathing new life into the iconic structure while preserving its architectural legacy. 2019: TWA Hotel Opens 5
BUILDING STRUCTURE The structure of the building is composed primarily of concrete columns integrated with edge beams. Eero’s goal was to create a simple beam and column structure. This was achieved through the use of thin shells, columns and edge beams. The thin shells transfer their loads through membrane stresses to the four columns. The edge beam collects the forces along its length and carries them to its supports. It is a system with three main elements that are working together. The shells are dependant on the edge beam, which are dependant on the columns. all working in unison. A sunken waiting area offered a view of airport operations through its immense window, while two tubular corridors led off towards the boarding gates. The vaulting of the roof shell allowed for a spacious and free-flowing interior layout, almost entirely devoid of spatial boundaries 6
He ultimately proposed a symmetrical arrangement of four curved, concrete shell roof segment, the curves of which flowed seamlessly from the piers that supported them. each of the four roof structures was separated from its neighbors by narrow skylights, with a circular pendant occupying the center point in which all four meet Every element, whether structural or circulatory, was carried out in this fashion, staircases all curved, and even the columns supporting upper walkways were seamlessly melded into both the ground and the ceilings 7
The physical model construction began with a 3D model, generating 52 section cuts to create contours. These contours were extracted to assemble the forms, revealing the interdependence of the three structural elements (column, shell roof, edge beam). inspired by Minoru Yamasaki's design for St. Louis Lambert International Airport's main terminal, his father Eliel Saarinen's design for Helsinki Central Station; and McKim, Mead & White's design for the original New York Penn Station. Saarinen's team created several wire, cardboard, and clay models of the terminal's roof, constructed at various scales. Saarinen had originally envisioned the roof as a single shell, but he refined the design twice before ultimately devising the plan with four shells. 8
LOAD ANALYSIS A lateral load acts parallel to the ground unlike vertical loads that act downward. Commonly known lateral loads are wind loads, seismic loads, and water and earth pressure. VERTICAL AND LATERAL LOADS Meridional forces are the forces acting along the meridian of a structure, where the meridian is an imaginary great circle passing through the poles of a sphere or the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical or conical structure. In the context of cylindrical or spherical objects, meridional forces are typically perpendicular to the hoop forces. "Hoop forces" typically refer to the forces exerted on a structure due to hoop stress. Hoop stress is a type of stress that acts circumferentially in the radial direction around a cylindrical or spherical object. TRANSFERRING HOOP FORCES TRANSFERRING MERIDIONAL FORCES 9
ROOF CONSTRUCTION The roof's thin concrete shell was designed to span a wide space using as little material as possible. The roof is composed of four concrete shells: two upward-slanting shells at the edges, which resemble wings, and two smaller shells slanting downward toward the front and back of the structure.The upward-slanting shells reach up to 75 feet (23 m) above ground level. The rooftop shells converge at the center, where each of the four shells supports the others. Four "Y"-shaped piers support the roof, facing the front and back, these measure 51 feet (16 m) tall by 315 feet (96 m) long. Skylights are placed within the gaps between each shell. The building's main entrance is on the land side, where the roof projects over a sidewalk (formerly a driveway) with a scupper. 10 SHELL STRUCTURE SYSTEM
FACADE The main portion of the head house's facade is made of large green-tinted glass walls. These glass walls were coated with a dark purple mylar film before 2005. Single-story wings extend outward from the main terminal to the north and south and contain several door openings within the concave walls. Inside these wings are maintenance areas. Green-tinted glass they provide better contrast than gray lenses, and better color accuracy than brown lenses. And, because green lenses favor transmittance of green light, they provide excellent visual acuity. 11
INTERIOR STAIRCASE Though the head house is two stories tall, it contains an intermediate level, joined to the lower level by a central staicase and to the upper level by four peripheral staircases. Ceramic tiles line the walls and floors. A concrete balcony on the upper floor spans the central staircase from the lower floor to the intermediate level. PASSAGEWAY The two passageways leading from the head house are completely enclosed and cross a service roadway. These tubes are covered in concrete, with an elliptical cross section as well as indirect lighting. The passageways did not have moving walkway to save money. 12
The head house of the TWA Flight Center, an innovative example of thin-shell construction, features a reinforced concrete shell roof supported at the corners. This pioneering use of reinforced concrete not only contributes to the terminal's structural stability but also aligns with Saarinen's commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural materials. The thin-shell construction showcases engineering prowess, underscoring the fusion of form and function that defines the terminal's architectural significance. Reinforced Concrete Shell: MATERIAL Large panels of glass play a pivotal role in the TWA Flight Center's design The extensive use of glass exemplifies Saarinen's vision for creating a visually immersive experience within the terminal, blurring the boundaries between the built environment and the dynamic, ever-changing landscape of aviation. This design choice fosters a sense of connectivity between passengers and the airfield, transforming the act of travel into a visually engaging and memorable experience. Glass Panels: 13
In conclusion, the TWA Flight Center stands as a testament to the ingenuity and vision of architect Eero Saarinen, showcasing the transformative power of shell structure systems in architectural design. The innovative use of a reinforced concrete shell roof not only defines the terminal's futuristic elegance but also exemplifies Saarinen's commitment to pushing the boundaries of engineering and materials. The harmonious fusion of form and function is evident in the seamless integration of spatial fluidity and organic inspiration, drawing from the curvature of a grapefruit rind. The large panels of glass contribute to a visually immersive experience, allowing passengers to engage with the dynamic airfield surroundings. Beyond its aesthetic allure, the TWA Flight Center underscores the enduring legacy of mid-century modern architecture and serves as a beacon of inspiration for future designers. This case study illuminates the profound impact of the shell structure system, not merely as a structural solution but as a transformative design element that shapes the way we experience and interact with architectural spaces. CONCLUSION 14
REFERENCES 15 HTTPS://WWW.SLIDESHARE.NET/DHANVEERSINHCHAVDA/TW A-FLIGHT-CENTER-NY HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/TWA_FLIGHT_CENTER HTTPS://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/788012/AD-CLASSICS-TWAFLIGHT-CENTER-EERO-SAARINEN HTTPS://WWW.SLIDESHARE.NET/CHAITRARANGANATH/TWAFLIGHT-CENTER-AT-JFK
THANK YOU FOR READING.