Studio James Carpenter and Gensler wrap San Diego Airport Terminal One with curved glass and aluminum fins

San Diego International Airport's new Terminal One features Luminous Wave, a facade that doubles as public art, created by Studio James Carpenter/JCDA in collaboration with Gensler. The artist was involved from the project's inception, an unusual specification by the client. The facade consists of curved, vertically striated fritted glass panels and serrated aluminum fins, referencing ocean waves. Originally designed as a Brise-soleil, cost and maintenance concerns led to integrating the art into the facade itself. The glass panels are double-pane, heat bent, about 5.5 feet wide and 13 feet tall, hung from steel rods for seismic resilience. An 80 percent frit pattern, determined by solar simulation, reduces glare for TSA agents and biometric cameras facing south. The fins' concave, serrated shape reflects daylight to enhance the wave effect. The design-build team included Turner Flatiron Joint Venture, Walter P Moore, Starq Design, Enclos, and North Glass.