Continental Airlines

The firm was commissioned to develop "prototypes" and installations fora new image program for Continental Airline. The program links facilities worldwide, joining diverse structures by introducing recognizable design elements for ticket counters, flight information display, seating and floor coverings. At LaGuardia Airport a special lightweight long-span canopy covers airline reception desks and provides visual identification as well as light filtration and informational devices. This very thin shell is the first time a composite system of carbon fibre, Kevlar and Nomex was used in an interior architectural application. The spanning element of the canopy is a space truss consisting of a 1" thick by 6" deep carbon steel bottom (tension) chord, four composite panels which act as the top (compression) chord and slender solid carbon steel bars and stainless steel rods as the truss diagonals. The canopy is nine trusses linked end to end, each spanning thirty linear feet. Each truss is designed to support its own weight, lighting and LED equipment, and the load of a person.