Phoenix Sky Harbor improves energy efficiency while passengers keep their cool thanks to View Smart Glass
A leader in smart building technologies, View, Inc., announces that its smart glass has been installed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s (PHX) new “Eighth Concourse” at Terminal 4, also known as T4 S1. The 275,000-square-foot expansion, opened in June, is occupied by Southwest Airlines.
Designed by the architecture team of SmithGroup and Corgan to take advantage of the terminal’s natural light and picturesque view, the concourse is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling View Smart Glass. The glass uses artificial intelligence to automatically adjust in response to the sun, maximizing access to daylight and outdoor views while blocking heat and glare to optimize passenger comfort and reduce energy consumption from lighting and HVAC by up to 20%. View Smart Glass plays an integral role in PHX’s plans to elevate the passenger experience and achieve LEED Silver certification.
We designed the Terminal 4 expansion to enhance the travel experience and reduce the airport’s environmental impact. View’s innovative technology directly supports both goals by improving passenger comfort while reducing energy demand.
Chad Makovsky, Director of Aviation Services for PHX
We wanted the Eighth Concourse to highlight PHX’s unique location in the Sonoran Desert and stunning views of the mountains south of the city, but we needed a solution to reduce the intense glare that comes with the region’s 296 days of sunshine. View Smart Glass helped us deliver a comfortable, energy-efficient environment without having to compromise on beautiful design.
Russ Sanders, Vice President of Design Integration for McCarthy Building Companies, the general contractor for the project.
In a study on natural light and the airport experience, passengers who boarded at gates with View Smart Glass were 68% more likely to report a higher satisfaction rate and rated the airport as 33% more modern, efficient, bright, and comfortable. A similar study on daylight and views found that seats at gates with View Smart Glass were 15 degrees cooler than those with traditional windows, helping passengers stay comfortable and enabling them to spend more time and money at restaurants, bars, and shops within the airport.
PHX is part of a list of airports across the country with View Smart Glass, including New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Memphis International Airport (MEM), Spokane International Airport (GEG), Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), and the recently announced installation at Missoula Montana Airport (MSO).