Due to the vital nature of air traffic controllers’ work, it was important to ensure that all building services and safety systems are resilient. Resilience, safety and operational comfort for air traffic controllers were key when designing the tower. Resilient design safeguards air navigation services Reducing the wind-induced vibrations for this important piece of national infrastructure was a vital part of our involvement. We have enjoyed the opportunity to cater for the unique challenges of designing such a tall, slender building. It is tuned to vibrate at the same frequency as the structure, reducing the sway of the tower and creating a positive work environment for air traffic controllers. A TMD is a large mass of steel inside the tower designed to absorb vibration energy. Arup’s engineers, in conjunction with RWDI, carried out a series of wind tunnel tests to determine the specifications for the two tuned mass dampers (TMD). Given the height of the tower, minimising wind-induced vibrations was a crucial aspect of the design. The needs of the air traffic controllers were a key consideration during the design, with a view to aiding concentration by ensuring maximum comfort and reducing potential distractions. The height of the new tower ensures appropriate visibility of runways, thresholds, manoeuvring areas and stands. Visual air traffic control towers are an airport’s central processing hub, a piece of critical safety infrastructure to ensure that aircrafts move seamlessly through airports. Salam Al-Sabah, Consultant at Arup, said, “The design solution of this dynamically wind-sensitive structure was achieved through close collaboration of the structural, mechanical and electrical, façade, geotechnical, environmental and lighting teams working together to attain an elegant solution.”ĭesigning for the needs of air traffic controllers Arup carried out the civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering and also provided environmental, lighting and façade consultancy services, bringing the project from concept to construction stage. The tower, a key element in complex high-traffic airports, was designed as a slim, elegant structure offering clear sight lines of both the current and future runways. Dublin Airport, one of Europe’s fastest-growing connectivity hubs, continues to prepare for the future with the construction of a new visual control tower that, together with a new runway, will help with airspace management and traffic flow.Īt 87.7m high, the visual control tower is the country’s tallest occupied structure and is a commanding new addition to the city’s skyline.

Atc tower view