Massport Garage Kinetic Façade
Arrowstreet recently completed a kinetic façade—an innovative and beautiful skin for the Central Parking Expansion at Logan Airport. This wind wall can be seen from the 9/11 Memorial and functions as an elegant backdrop while at the same time screening views into the garage. It is visible from the Airport Hilton Hotel, the highway, the East Boston waterfront, and the Seaport neighborhood.
The design team worked closely with fabricator, Extech, to create the 48,000 aluminum wind flappers that span the 8-story garage and show patterns of the wind across two façades. These tangible representations of air currents echo a key factor in aviation, creating an ever-changing and visually stimulating gateway at the entry to the airport.
Watch the video to experience the kinetic facade in motion.
Architecture in Motion
Ultimately, the aggressive schedule for this project did not compromise the design of the new garage, which is located on a highly visible site and functions as a new backdrop to the 9/11 Memorial. On the exterior, the design team partnered with a fabricator to develop a kinetic screen, comprised of over 48,000 curved aluminum squares spanning 8 stories and 290 feet, transforming a typically utilitarian structure into a mesmerizing visual experience. Through the movement of thousands of small individual panels, invisible flows of wind become perceptible and create an ever-changing gateway to the airport. The kinetic facade provides a unique complement to the tranquil Memorial, addressing the highly visible location, creating privacy for the hotel, and maintaining openness for garage users. Logan airport now has a garage that is a visual work of art.
