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Research

Bridging the Gap

The island-and-bridges scheme radically changed the Port Authority’s vision for how the airport should work. HOK’s architects and structural engineers needed to quickly prove that building two 450-foot-long steel truss bridges connecting the headhouse with the concourses housing the gates was a viable option.

1/5

Aided by its proprietary parametric modeling tool, HOK STREAM, the engineering team rapidly assessed the feasibility of dozens of geometric variations for the bridges.

2/5

The limited structural depth of the spans and their sensitivity to slight changes in massing meant any project alterations could create costly, timely delays. The team needed to get it right from the start.

3/5

The solution that emerged called for two vertical steel trusses to rise 65 feet into the air. This would be high enough for aircraft to taxi underneath but low enough to preserve views from the nearby air traffic control tower.

The solution that emerged called for two vertical steel trusses to rise 65 feet into the air. This would be high enough for aircraft to taxi underneath but low enough to preserve views from the nearby air traffic control tower.

4/5

HOK’s modeling showed that the design for the pedestrian bridges satisfied challenging depth constraints while surpassing vibration requirements and ultimately helped this unique scheme win the design competition.

5/5

The island-and-bridges scheme radically changed the Port Authority’s vision for how the airport should work. HOK’s architects and structural engineers needed to quickly prove that building two 450-foot-long steel truss bridges connecting the headhouse with the concourses housing the gates was a viable option.

1/5

Aided by its proprietary parametric modeling tool, HOK STREAM, the engineering team rapidly assessed the feasibility of dozens of geometric variations for the bridges.

2/5

The limited structural depth of the spans and their sensitivity to slight changes in massing meant any project alterations could create costly, timely delays. The team needed to get it right from the start.

3/5

The solution that emerged called for two vertical steel trusses to rise 65 feet into the air. This would be high enough for aircraft to taxi underneath but low enough to preserve views from the nearby air traffic control tower.

The solution that emerged called for two vertical steel trusses to rise 65 feet into the air. This would be high enough for aircraft to taxi underneath but low enough to preserve views from the nearby air traffic control tower.

4/5

HOK’s modeling showed that the design for the pedestrian bridges satisfied challenging depth constraints while surpassing vibration requirements and ultimately helped this unique scheme win the design competition.

5/5

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