Enjoyable travel

Engberg Anderson’s design soars beyond expectations

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Security is today’s top issue when air travel is concerned, but architect Engberg Anderson Design Partnership Inc. made enjoyment a priority too when designing the Concourse C project at General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee.

“I think what’s unique (about airports) is that you’rethere to leave,” said Mark Ernst, a partner with Engberg Anderson. “It’s a building that’s fun to walk through, to pass through the space.”

Plans for Concourse C at the Milwaukee airport were several years in the making. Engberg Anderson submitted plans early on as part of a study of the concourse and the airport’s needs, Ernst said, but then things sat for a while.

“The whole [Sept. 11] thing delayed the study,” Ernst said. “It was put on hold. That had a huge impact on the airline industry.”

The Transportation Security Administration changed security requirements and developed new ones during design and construction phases of the project.

“We had a lot of interaction with them on all the terminals,” Ernst said of TSA officials. “There were space constraints because of their equipment, and we had to put up glass walls. They were worried about sun hitting some of their monitors. It caused us to take a step back.”

Ernst said the new concourse has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the tarmac, creating a light and airy space.

“The kinds of airports I really like are the ones where you can see the planes,” he said. “We wanted transparency and natural daylight. When I’m sitting in an airport, I like to look at the energy.”

Project Essentials

Project name: General Mitchell International Airport Concourse C8 gate addition

Location: Milwaukee

Submitting companies: Engberg Anderson Inc., Milwaukee; Milwaukee County Department of Public Works, Milwaukee

Construction manager: Gilbane Building Co.

Architects: American Design Inc., Milwaukee; Engberg Anderson; Quorum Architects Inc., Milwaukee

Engineers: Arnold & O’Sheridan Inc., Brookfield, structural and electrical; Mead & Hunt Inc., Milwaukee, civil; PSJ Engineering Inc., Milwaukee, plumbing and fire protection

Owners: General Mitchell International Airport and Milwaukee County

Project size: 157,000 square feet

Project cost: $36 million

Start date: September 2003

Completion date: July 2007

 

Ernst said the concourse’s design also includes curved, flowing lines that give the structure a sense of movement.

Art also is included within the concourse’s design.

“Before we came on board, we had this notion of looking down at the earth,” he said. “The terrazzo floor pattern is a view of the earth in a lively, abstract way.”

The floor is broken up by circular mosaic medallions, which Ernst called “little views of southeast Wisconsin.” They show festivals, church spires and farmland, he said.

But Ernst said the light feeling created by the high windows, curved lines and terrazzo floor contrasts with the general toughness of the concourse. Buildings materials were selected based on their ability to handle heavy amounts of traffic, he said.

“We were concerned about maintenance,” Ernst said. “There are stone-clad walls, and the terrazzo floor is almost indestructible. Everything was chosen for the abuse airports get.”

— Janine Anderson