Drawing on the small-scale urbanity of American infrastructural forms such as water towers and lighthouses, PAU was lauded by the FAA during the interview process for its close collaboration with engineering partners and for creating optimal conditions for both the towers’ systems and their operators.

Designing for the specificity of the ATCT’s functions and adaptability as a prototype to a multitude of sites—including varying cab heights, seismic and climatic needs, and material availability—all while maximizing value with a limited budget was a core challenge. In a break from traditional slender-shaft towers, the F4 Tower incorporates program as “modules” around the core in a cruciform configuration, providing usable, well-proportioned rooms, efficient circulation, and programmatic flexibility in site-adaptation, future expansion, and end-of-life deconstruction, while balancing efficiency, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness.

Beyond providing critical structural redundancy, the eight exterior columns afford a touch of local flair in customizable colors. Sustainability strategies include all-electric building systems and geothermal heating and cooling. Following completion of the prototype design, PAU was engaged to adapt the prototype to site-specific locations: Towers will be built at 31 municipal airports across the country, often the tallest structures in these rural settings.