The New Mexico Spaceport Authority unveiled the design Tuesday for the state's commercial spaceport.
Construction on the 100,000 square-foot hangar and terminal facility of Spaceport America is scheduled to begin in 2008, and completion is expected in late 2009 or early 2010, the authority announced at a new conference. It will be the nation's first purpose-built commercial spaceport.
The design is from a U.S.-British team, consisting of URS Corporation and Foster + Partners. They created a low-lying, striking design that uses natural earth as a berm, and relies on passive energy for heating and cooling, with photovoltaic panels for electricity and water recycling capabilities.
A rolling concrete shell acts as a roof with massive windows opening to a stunning view of the runway and spacecraft. The low- lying form is dug into the landscape to exploit the thermal mass, which buffers the building from the extremes of the New Mexico climate as well as catching the westerly winds for ventilation.
The design makes a minimal impact on the environment. The low- lying, organic shape resembles a rise in the landscape, and will use local materials and regional construction techniques.
Natural light enters via skylights, with a glazed facade reserved for the terminal building, establishing a platform for spectacular views onto the runway.
"The design is outstanding in the way it blends in with the environment, creating a shape that is both distinctive and functional while complementing the landscape," said Kelly O' Donnell, head of the spaceport authority.
The terminal and hangar facility are projected to cost about 31 million U.S. dollars. Britain's Virgin Galactic Corporation is the spaceport's anchor tenant.
Source: Xinhua
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