CONCRETE IS AWESOME

“If you have ever flown in or out of the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, you may have experienced or noticed Eero Saareinen’s Trans World Flight Center. When Saarinen was commissioned in 1956, the client wanted this building to capture the “spirit of flight,” and as visitors rush to make it to their flight there is no choice but to admire the swooping concrete curves that embraced flyers into the jet age. The structure consists of a shell of reinforced concrete with four segments that extend outward from a central point. The concrete “wings” then unfold on either side of the exterior, preparing for flight. Within the concrete, the structure is reinforced with a web of steel. The large panels of glass beneath the concrete are also supported with steel, and have a contemporary purple-tint. These windows also highlight the purpose of the structure, providing views of departing and arriving jets.”