Structural reinforcement of ATC tower at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
This air traffic control tower was built in 1951 on the NATO Air Base at Hahn which was formerly operated by the US Air Force. Over time, the steel supporting structure and the foundations of the tower were damaged by penetrating moisture and the results of poor workmanship during an alteration in the 1980s. The damage was so serious that the structural safety of the building was no longer ensured.
This air traffic control tower was built in 1951 on the NATO Air Base at Hahn which was formerly operated by the US Air Force. Over time, the steel supporting structure and the foundations of the tower were damaged by penetrating moisture and the results of poor workmanship during an alteration in the 1980s. The damage was so serious that the structural safety of the building was no longer ensured.
The aim of the VOF procedure initiated in 2011 was to strengthen the structure of the ATC tower and ensure that it would be usable for the next 20 years by Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, which is now used for civil aviation.
The contract negotiated during the Europe-wide procedure was processed by a consortium consisting of KREBS+KIEFER Beratende Ingenieure Mainz and Architekturbüro Schuppach Mainz, in which KREBS+KIEFER took the leading role.
The structural reinforcement was carried out by means of an external steel structure consisting of six prefabricated assemblies. This made it possible to install the structure in one day and two nights. Using hydraulic presses, the steel corset, which is connected with the existing building on the 4th floor, was lifted so that the loads were redistributed and the loads on the existing building were sufficiently reduced.
The solution developed by KREBS+KIEFER deviated from the concept created for the owners in a preliminary study and resulted in significant savings in the required tonnage. These savings were achieved by tapering the lattice girders towards their lower ends so that the span widths could be reduced.
The cost savings made it possible to realize the mesh façade proposed by Architekturbüro Schuppach in addition to the planned external paintwork. This façade was not included in the VOF tender procedure but represents a significant architectural enhancement of the ATC tower: through the semi-transparent mesh, the new load-bearing structure is barely visible from the outside, but the view from inside remains clear. After its completion in early May, a world map print over the entire area will make the tower an eye-catching element of the airport.
This project was processed in full by the team at KREBS+KIEFER Mainz under the supervision of project leader Mr. Sebastian Meurer. The short distances to Architekturbüro Schuppach and to the site proved to be an advantage for the project team, allowing on-site clarification of the typical tasks that arise during repair and alteration projects.
