Kalwall translucent cladding has been used in a project at Rayleigh Durham Airport in North Carolina designed by architects Clark Nexsen. The aging 1981 Terminal 1 building was nicknamed the ‘blue box’ as the original rectangular building was constructed using blue corrugated metal, making it dark and uninviting while the inside was haphazard with a poor passenger flow. In a £50m scheme, a new terminal has emerged from a complete redesign with everything from the curbside to the interior space. On landside arrival, a Kalwall canopy system provides shelter and links access points while a Kalwall translucent façade is utilised to clad the main terminal building. Its ability to diffuse natural daylight into the interior means the new TSA screening facility now has complete privacy for the sensitive areas while bathing the interior with natural, glare-free light.
Kalwall provides complete line-of-sight protection, maintaining privacy for building occupants while bathing the interior with diffused daylighting regardless of the weather. The system also enhances simplicity by doing away with the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Kalwall is highly insulating which reduces energy costs. The standard Kalwall 70mm thick panel offers insulation up to 0.28W/m²K – equivalent to a cavity-filled solid wall.
