Denver Airport -- The Teflon Roof and Architectural Anomalies
Denver Airport -- The Teflon Roof and Architectural Anomalies
[edit | edit source]The Jeppesen Terminal Roof
[edit | edit source]The most visually distinctive feature of Denver International Airport -- visible from miles away on the open plains -- is the roof of the Jeppesen Terminal, which consists of 34 white tensile fabric peaks rising to varying heights above the terminal structure. The peaks collectively create an effect variously compared to:
- The snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains (the architect's stated intent)
- A Bedouin tent city
- A circus tent
- A series of aliens hovering above the plains (in conspiracy-minded readings)
What the Roof Actually Is
[edit | edit source]| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Fiberglass-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane -- commonly known as Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric |
| Number of "peaks" | 34 individual peaked tensile fabric sections |
| Coverage area | Approximately 152 acres of covered terminal space |
| Structural principle | Tensile structure: the fabric is held in tension by interior masts and external cable stays rather than by rigid structural members; the tension in the fabric provides structural integrity |
| Transparency | The fabric is semi-translucent; natural light filters through the peaks into the terminal below; interior electric lighting causes the peaks to glow at night |
| Maintenance | The PTFE coating is self-cleaning (rainwater washes the surface) and highly resistant to UV degradation; the roof requires minimal maintenance |
| Architect | Curt Fentress of Fentress Architects; designed specifically to evoke the Rocky Mountains and Colorado's historic tent architecture |
| Engineering firm | Severud Associates (structural engineering for the roof system) |
Why Tensile Fabric
[edit | edit source]The choice of tensile fabric for the DEN terminal roof was driven by practical considerations:
- A rigid roof covering 152 acres of airport terminal space would require an enormous structural steel system
- Tensile fabric can cover large spans with significantly less material and structural weight than rigid systems
- The translucency provides natural daylighting -- reducing artificial lighting costs
- The distinctive appearance creates a memorable landmark in an otherwise featureless landscape
- The technology, while unusual, had been proven at other structures worldwide (the Munich Olympic Stadium's roof; Denver's own Elitch Gardens; various sports stadia)
The Conspiracy Dimension
[edit | edit source]The roof's unusual appearance -- 34 white peaks floating above the plains, glowing with inner light at night -- has contributed to the airport's uncanny aesthetic. Specifically:
- The tent-like appearance is associated in some readings with nomadic, temporary, or impermanent architecture -- as though the airport is designed to be abandoned after some event
- The peaks' resemblance (to some observers) to alien ships or UFOs hovering above the terminal is cited as symbolic
- The semi-translucent material means the terminal's interior activities are faintly visible from outside -- or that exterior activities are faintly visible from inside -- creating an impression of semi-concealment
None of these interpretations is supported by any documented design intent. The roof is an engineering and architectural achievement driven by practical and aesthetic considerations.
