The April 2005 completion of a 10-gate expansion of the Satellite D Concourse and a new Ramp Control Tower at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada features exterior panels of Alucobond Material. This project continues the design vision and Alucobond Material selection established with the construction of the 26-gate Satellite D Concourse completed in 1998. Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects of Henderson, Nevada handled both projects.

Thermal Systems KWC Ltd. fabricated — at their Calgary, Alberta location — the Alucobond Material panels for the Satellite “D” expansion, using their AP300 High Performance Rainscreen System. The addition features 37,000 sq. ft. of 4mm Alucobond Material in original custom Satellite “D” Blue Metallic PVDF color; 11,000 sq. ft. of new custom Blue Sunstorm Metallic PVDF color; and 15,000 sq. ft. of 4mm Alucobond Plus Material in original custom Satellite “D” Blue Metallic PVDF color.

Thermal Systems also detailed and fabricated the Alucobond Material panels in a dry-set, rainscreen system used with the original Satellite D Concourse. At that time, it was one of the first major applications of this technology in the United States, according to officials at Thermal Systems. More than 200,000 sq. ft. of Alucobond Material was used for that application.

Carmel Architectural Sales of Anaheim, California installed the panel system for both the original Satellite D Concourse and the more recent 10-gate expansion.

“We wanted reflective material, something with a color of the sky, to contrast with the predominant earth tones of the airport and the surrounding area,” said J. Windom Kimsey, FAIA, of Tate Snyder Kimsey, following completion of the 1998 project.

Other considerations in material selection were the dry seal, which provides a clean look; cost effectiveness; and a material that would maintain its look over the years. The visually flat, high-tech appearance of the panels is also a consideration in airport projects such as this.

According to Tate Snyder Kimsey’s architectural statement about the expansion, “The project incorporates design elements from the first phase of the D Terminal project, including exposed steel trusses, a curved roof, natural daylighting and thematic images of the Las Vegas Strip.” The expansion also includes “new holdrooms, airline clubrooms, restaurants, retail shops and gaming areas, as well as airline offices.” The new Ramp Control Tower allows ramp control operations for D terminal gates and for a future international terminal, according to the architectural firm.

Sletten Construction of Las Vegas, Nevada was the general contractor for the expansion project.