Join Our Team
Subscribe
Explore
Get to Know Us
Our Culture Code of Conduct Mergers and Acquisition
Career Opportunities
Opportunities at Trinity Submit a Resume
Put Your Degree to Work

We assist clients through a combination of consulting support, technology-based solutions, professional training, and staffing services.

View Open Positions

LaGuardia Airport Design Case Study

Arrow
Download PDF
Download the PDF version of this case study.

Acoustic Design Turns Bustling Airport into a Calm Passenger Experience

Share this case study!
Built EnvironmentBuilt Environment

Industry

Airports & Travel Hubs

Location

United States

Trinity in partnership with HOK, was tasked by the Port Authority to make the LA Guardia Airport customer feel better. The Concourse B renovation project would prove to provide many challenges to achieving that task.

Challenge

Trinity Cerami’s role in steering the acoustic design for the new Concourse B at LaGuardia Airport, a $4 billion renovation project, involved replacing dated stainless-steel columns and low ceilings with an airy, art-filled concourse dotted with trees, natural light and soaring 60-foot ceilings. LaGuardia Terminal B, reimagined and redesigned by HOK, is now a beacon of light in 21st century development and the first new airport built in the country within the last 25 years, with acoustics that are designed to create a welcoming and relaxing environment.

 

Solutions

Cerami’s mission from the Port Authority was resolute: make the customer feel better. To that end, Cerami designed the concourse, terminals, pedestrian bridge, ticketing gates, and headhouse, so they are as welcoming as possible, reducing the stress of flying for passengers and creating a calm environment for airport staff. Even the TSA offices and baggage claim area weren’t overlooked. Extra care was taken in designing specific noise control measures for things like the baggage handling conveyers, which aren’t even visible to passengers.

 

Services Performed

Trinity measured airfield noise levels to inform design accuracy, developed acoustical solutions for the pedestrian bridge over taxiing planes, and implemented noise control strategies for the concourse, gates, headhouse, TSA, and baggage claim. The team also collaborated on structural acoustics for glass and façade systems, integrating these solutions with natural light and biophilic design features.

Results

Cerami designed the acoustics for the new pedestrian bridge, which has airplanes taxiing right underneath it. While a very elegant architectural feature, travelers would certainly not want to hear the roar of engines or feel the vibrations as they pass over it on their way to their gate. Our team collaborated with the structural engineers, establishing criteria and specific calculations, to get it just right. We took to the airfields to measure noise levels from airplanes taking-off, landing and even taxiing to determine the perfect type of glass to control sound. The first impression of New York will be one of peace – something we can all use more of these days.

$4 Billion

Terminal renovation

60 ft

Ceilings with natural light

Blocked

Aircraft noise at pedestrian bridge