Major components of Key West International Airport’s Concourse A project are progressing on schedule, one being installation of the building’s glass curtainwall.

The glass panels started going up in late May with the process nearing completion in the coming days. According to Mead & Hunt, which has provided planning, design and construction services, the glass curtainwall comprises 446 panels composed of two layers laminated (for impact) and spaced apart to provide an insulated, high performance envelope.

“This is another major milestone within the Concourse A project and I have to thank our design teams, construction team and my staff who continue working so hard to bring it to fruition,” said Richard Strickland, Executive Director of Airports.

"I'm enjoying watching this project continue to develop under the guidance of our committed airport team," said Holly Raschein, Monroe County Mayor. "Concourse A will be a masterpiece."

Glass Details:

Electrochromic glass is a type of smart glass technology that can switch between transparent and opaque states in response to an applied voltage. It consists of several layers of glass, with a thin electrochromic coating between them.

When an electric current is applied to the coating, ions within the coating migrate, causing the glass to darken.

The process is reversible, and the glass can return to its transparent state when the current is removed.

The tinting is on a daylight sensor which allows for the electric charge to be applied only when in direct sunlight.

The curtainwall assemblies are designed to withstand a 200 mph large missile impact.

Environmental Highlights

Bird-safe glazing refers to a pattern that is fused to the glass that disrupts bird groups traveling in their migratory path from seeing their reflection. The ceramic pattern is a small white dot every two inches in both directions. Airport officials and the design team met with local concerned wildlife preservation groups to review and gain approval for the pattern.

There are 266 panels on the north façade; 37 electrochromic panels on the east façade; 32 electrochromic panels on the west façade; and 111 panels on south façade. The panels were assembled by Crawford-Tracey in their Deerfield Beach location and trucked to the jobsite. The north and south glass panels were manufactured by Viracon and the east and west panels were manufactured by Sage Glass. Both are from Minnesota and satisfy the Buy America requirement.

Jet Bridges

The new 48,802-square-foot concrete structure will boast eight glass jet bridges, which are set to arrive in August and be installed in September. The jet bridges, designed and manufactured in Texas, were also engineered with integrated visual deterrence to protect wildlife.

Airport officials held a topping off ceremony June 5 to commemorate the completion of the steel roof structure. Concourse A is on track to be complete by 2025, with overall project completion (baggage claim area, expanded TSA lines) set for Spring 2026.