any airport designs feature full glass facades, with floor-to-ceiling glazing delivering exceptional views of the planes taking off and landing throughout the day and night. St Paul International Airport is no different, with large elevations of structural glazing creating light-filled spaces with exceptional views from all angles.

Travelling can be a stressful experience, from planning a trip to finding the right terminal and gate within the airport. St Paul Airport in Minneapolis faced another challenge when they realised the east-facing terminal required travellers to wait in line whilst suffering from discomfort as a result of solar glare and overheating.

To combat the discomfort passengers were experiencing, a technical glass solution was specified. Electrochromic glass was the perfect fit for this project, as the glass façade design remained undisturbed and the views were not spoiled. The technical glass controls solar gain and glare without obstructing the light transmission or views.

The glass façade design in the Charles Lindbergh terminal follows a modular design, with differing rectangular shapes used throughout, to create smaller panes of glass within the design. This meant that the electrochromic glass could be switched on and off at different points, depending on where the sun was.

Not only does the technical glass enhance the functionality of the space, creating a comfortable internal temperature for the occupants while they wait, but it also adds to the building design by creating a blue tint. When switched on, the blue tint generates a slight cast over the large minimal internal spaces, creating a point of interest that acts as a design feature.

The airport terminal now benefits from highly functional glass façade designs, with a completely adaptable technical glass solution to allow for even the most extreme weather conditions.