Replacement of original windows and curtainwall and upgrade of more recently installed windows to meet historic preservation and blast requirements. 115,000 sf.

The windows on the facade of Reagan Airport’s Terminal A, constructed in 1941, were original to the building, except for replacements made in the last ten years. For a protective upgrade, Weidlinger Associates designed blast windows to replace the original windows and upgraded the newer windows to meet blast standards. Weidlinger also designed a replacement system for the two-story curtainwall in the terminal’s main waiting room, to accommodate blast, as well as wind, seismic, and gravity loads. The curtainwall provides a spectacular view of the airfield. Because the terminal is a historic landmark, the replacement windows had to follow the original sight lines and materials, as well as the intent of the 1941 architectural drawings. The project required a survey of existing conditions; collection of information from the original structural, architectural, and window shop drawings; and a site investigation. Extensive coordination was necessary with the architect, the Authority, and the specification writers and cost estimators. The terminal building was intended to be modern yet reminiscent of nearby Mount Vernon, with architectural references to the Colonial and Neoclassical styles

Completion Date: 2008
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Owner or Client: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Prime Consultant(s): Shalom Baranes Associates