Replacement of original windows and curtain wall 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 10 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 curtain wall in the terminal's main waiting room to accommodate blast and resist wind, seismic, and gravity loads. The curtain wall 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. It entailed extensive coordination 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 colonial and neoclassical styles.

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