For the design of the Sky Train Rental Car Center (RCC) Station connecting the terminals and transportation hubs at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, the SmithGroup was seeking a modern material to compliment the airport aesthetic.
The clear choice was metal with its strong identity to the aviation and transportation industry.
Serving more than 120,000 passengers per day, the architects built off the theme of the existing 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station in designing the new station’s concave and convex overarching metal roofs, highlighted by uplighting.
The LEED Gold station is covered with a coil coated .040 in. BEMO aluminum standing seam roof with DURA COAT PVDF and Kovach aluminum composite metal panels cladding the walls, perimeter gutter, fascia and soffit.
The curving roof design shelters passengers from the sun while the dynamic forms simulate the constant movement of the trains and complement the fluid lines of aviation design. The curved rooflines also mimic aircraft flight patterns and serve as identifiable wayfinding points for travelers.
In addition to the aesthetic, aluminum was chosen for its affordability, enabling the exterior envelope design and detailing to stay within budget thereby avoiding the need to reduce the programmatic scope.
The low-maintenance material comes with a 30-year warranty and the natural metal coating is fade resistant. This was key as the station design needs to last as long as the train system. The modularity of the roof and fascia panel design will also enable easy replacement in the event of a damaged panel.
The aluminum material is less likely to experience galvanic reactions between dissimilar metals. Further, the self-cleaning attribute of the coated metal panel ensures that the roof always looks clean.
The Sky Train expansion replaces a network of buses with electric trains, thereby eliminating the rental car buses, hotel shuttles and cars crowding the airport. The train system reduces energy use in the airport by 59%.
Taken together, the project was recognized with an Envision Gold Award for its achievement in high-performance infrastructure.
The Sky Train Stage 2 Extension was fast tracked in order to open in time for the 2022 holiday travel season and Super Bowl LVII. The lightweight roofing and cladding systems supported a quick installation and minimized the size of the supporting structure.
Inside the station, terrazzo floors and commissioned artwork lends color and a unique sense of place. Indoor and outdoor seating, air circulation, and good lighting provide safety and comfort 24 hours a day.
