Air traffic control towers are specialist-use buildings of varying degrees of complexity, and considerable differences in size. They do, however, share many common features in both construction, and therefore design, and in the selection of sites.
This Paper looks at the processes through which the most suitable site is selected for a control tower building (CTB) at an aerodrome and at the design and construction features of the CTB and its associated technical and support accommodation. It emphasizes the input of professional air traffic control (ATC) staff into the design brief, which is then considered by civil engineering consultants who will produce the architectural design. Whereas suitability for purpose in the operational ATC sense is determined by ATC planning staff, within the parameters thus obtained, the consultants will have some considerable degree of freedom in their own design work, leading to CTBs of striking dissimilarities in appearance capable of fulfilling similar operational roles.
