CENTRIA Brings Complex Project to Life at DFW Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport handles more than 80 million passengers a year, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. When regional leaders decided to expand Terminal C, the design-build team led by architects Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville (PGAL) and contractor The Walsh Group needed a building envelope partner that could bring their bold vision to life, so they turned to CENTRIA. The project—adding four replacement gates known as the High C Gates in a $115 million undertaking—required an exterior cladding solution that could keep pace with a facility that never stopped moving.
A manufacturer of engineered metal wall and roof systems, CENTRIA supplied the Formawall Dimension Series in Granite and Pewter, an all-in-one assembly integrating wall panels, windows, and louver systems into a single product. The project also pursued modular construction, a first for a U.S. airport. Six wall modules were built off-site, then moved a mile across the airfield to the new terminal—a method well suited to Formawall’s transportable, ready-to-assemble panels.
The High C Gates needed to feel modern and sophisticated, with an exterior that announced something new. “It looks clean and unique, which is exactly what you want for an airport,” says Ben Bearden, District Sales Manager at CENTRIA. “With our solution, we were able to provide an all-in-one component that outperforms a traditional assembly, meaning it will last for several decades.” Twenty-seven thousand square feet of Formawall panels were installed across the 80,000-square-foot terminal. The steel within them is produced utilizing circular steelmaking via low-emission EAFs (Electric Arc Furnaces) with an average recycled content of 56.3 percent, a specification that carried weight for a project of this scale and visibility. “CENTRIA has always been the leading edge of sustainability and recyclability,” says Bill Wade, president of Wade Architectural Systems, the CENTRIA dealer on the project.
Expert Ally
The Dallas Fort Worth expansion was executed through a fully coordinated approach from start to finish, beginning with early engagement with the design teams, selection of the panel system, and project kickoff meetings involving installers, the general contractor, as well as the engineering and detailing teams at CENTRIA. “This level of coordination ensured that a project of such unique and complex construction progressed smoothly, without disruptions, and was delivered on schedule,” the CENTRIA team recalls.
It is an approach CENTRIA applies regardless of project type or scale. The company's work spans airports, hospitals, educational buildings, and sports venues, environments where the level of coordination a complex project demands has to be established from the start. “Engaging all parties early helps ensure the appropriate systems are selected and properly specified,” the team notes, “enabling accurate detailing and streamlining the bidding and ordering process while improving production lead times.”
Quality, customization, engineering detailing, and dedicated sales support form the foundation of the reputation CENTRIA has built in the metal exterior cladding industry, backed by a network of installers trained specifically on its products and systems. “Our installers are fully trained on CENTRIA products and systems,” the team adds, “giving owners and design teams confidence that their projects will be completed with high-quality installation and products that meet or exceed expectations.”
CENTRIA is a Nucor company, part of a portfolio that also includes Metl-Span and draws on Nucor's manufacturing infrastructure for supply reliability and long-term performance assurance. Across insulated metal panels, rainscreen systems, and roof systems, the breadth of what CENTRIA offers is matched by the depth of support behind it—a combination that has made the company a trusted resource on some of the most demanding building projects in the country.