Airports are often just a means of transportation, but a new airport was recently opened with an innovative and functional approach to air travel. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) represents the vibrant culture of New Orleans while being mindful of economic and environmental impact. With the need to uphold safety standards, designers created corrosion protection through hot-dip galvanizing (HDG).
This tasteful and carefully thought out airport recently won the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) Artistic award.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport design was inspired by the geography of the Delta region. The building curves like the Mississippi River with the use of arches, columns and glass facades. The use of glass windows creates a terrific view of the airfield and the surrounding outdoors. The idea of bringing the Mississippi River to life was designed with hot-dip galvanizing and paint in a duplex system that will leave the design protected for many years to come.
The designers chose hot-dip galvanizing because of its sustainability and ability to meet the requirement of a 50-year life with a low maintenance cost. The airport designers wanted minimal upkeep to reduce the amount of delays on the tarmac. Hot-tip galvanizing is durable and will reduce the risk of erosion caused by humid Louisiana and the harshness of everyday airport traffic.
The project engineer, who is a LEED® professional DBE, remarked that the initial cost of hot-dip galvanizing was more economical than the high-performance coatings available to the steel industry today. Hot-dip galvanized steel addresses the economic and cultural factors that will make the airport project successful well into the future.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport won the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) Artistic award because of their innovative and sustainable design using hot-dip galvanizing (HDG). Hot-dip galvanizing offers the necessary protection from the abrasiveness of the day-to-day airport operations. The product was also cost effective, making HDG the right coating for MSY.
AZZ focuses on creating a stronger, safer world, evidenced by our focus on protecting infrastructure from corrosion. This project was an innovative way to show the possibilities of galvanizing. Learn more about AZZ’s capabilities by exploring our hot dip galvanizing capabilities.
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