Operations Control Tower

United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ

Project size : 6,000 SF

Graf & Lewent Architects was involved from the inception in the development of this major new operations control tower for United Airline’s key Newark hub. Beginning with “bench marking” tours to other airline operations control towers, Graf & Lewent developed a detailed program for the facility, and worked with the architects for the terminal expansion to help shape the tower shell.

Graf & Lewent then designed the interior fit-out of this integrated operations control facility. The tower cab, approximately 150 feet above the airport ramp, encloses approximately 6,000 square feet on two levels. The ops control center on the upper level of the cab includes 43 positions at custom-designed consoles. A two-level raised floor helps maintain sight lines for the key operations positions. Unique acoustical “clouds” suspended below the main ceiling contain indirect lighting to augment direct “path of travel” down lights. Conditioned air is distributed through the raised floor to minimize the space devoted to air distribution.