Marlon Blackwell Architects, headquartered in Arkansas, has revealed plans for a 129-foot-tall air traffic control tower at Columbus Municipal Airport in Indiana. The tower's design draws inspiration from the sleek aerodynamic lines of aircraft, incorporating flat, geometric cladding made of steel and aluminum arranged in overlapping layers. A distinct viewing area divides the structure between its main body and uppermost section. Construction is scheduled to commence in April 2025. For further details, visit SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
This new tower will replace the existing 80-year-old, 78-foot-tall tower and includes plans for a lawn for public programming.
Marlon Blackwell, founder of Marlon Blackwell Architects, envisions the tower as a "beacon" of design heritage, paying homage to Columbus's 20th-century modernist architecture. He expressed, "We are honored to contribute to Columbus's architectural legacy."
Aerodynamic Inspiration
The tower's design takes cues from the "aerodynamic lines of an aircraft." Renderings showcase a flat, geometric tower clad in steel and aluminum, featuring recurring layers.
A viewing area distinguishes between the tower's main body and its uppermost volume. The goal is for the new Columbus Municipal Airport
Air Traffic Control Tower to embody Columbus's architectural and design heritage, serving as a significant gateway into the city.
Clad in aluminum and stainless steel, the tower will serve as both a sentinel and a beacon for the community. Funded in part by the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program and the City of Columbus, construction is scheduled to start in April 2025.
Project Details
Firm: Marlon Blackwell Architects
Location: Indiana
Photo Courtesy: Conica