SOUND CONTROL FOR GROUND CONTROL: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND THE BIG CURVE

The Southwest Airlines Network Operations Control (NOC) Center is big. Texas big. Located in Dallas, it’s 16 000 sq. ft. of intensity, with hundreds of staff talking with airlines and agencies to control flight and ground crew activity 24 hours a day.

Designing a space this large involved a challenging list of requirements, including acoustic control. Charged with creating a “beautiful, structurally sound facility” that also organized employees for more efficient, streamlined work, the architects knew the ceiling would play a major role. That’s where the CertainTeed Gyptone® BIG™ Curve came in, with highly effective sound absorption and aesthetic appeal – but without the time and cost of custom fabrication.