How general use airports can
unlock our electric future
Concept Rise explores a better future, one in which we all want to live. The relationship between air and ground, vehicle and terminal, business and the community. Countless rounds of design, debate, and development went into conceptualizing and equitable experience for passengers and users.
Thousands of under-utilized airports with spatial ‘reserves’ for low-cost, high-speed vertiport development.
There are over 5,000 general use airports in the United States. Densely dispersed across the nation, these airports align with a ‘sweet spot’ for eVTOL capacity and range. Many are under-utilized and buffered by large reserves of flat, fallow land perfect for clean energy infrastructure. Furthermore their proximity to cities, suburban, and rural communities makes them ideal for centralization of that infrastructure. They are uniquely positioned to serve their community with electric air travel, medical transport, and middle & last-mile logistics. With established air traffic control systems in place, these airports are the ideal platform to build from.
A complete ‘plug and play’ system
Play&Co has designed a vertiport concept to fit existing airport master plans.
Connectable modules can be built in a controlled environment and delivered to site in weeks, not months.
Better for the planet and
designed for conservation
The zero energy ready vertiport employs advanced manufacturing techniques that improve energy ratings and minimize waste by up to 91% vs traditional construction. A solar farm powers the vertiport and a green roof facilitates thermal regulation, sound insulation, and carbon sequestration.
Better for business and
designed for versatility at scale
Serving as a ‘blank canvas’, terminals are designed for ultimate versatility. Companies can curate their own unique ‘branded experiences’ by customizing everything from floorplan to furnishings, colors to cladding. Business is booming? That’s covered too. With foresight, extra terminals can be installed as demand increases.
Scalable modular construction
‘Modules’ can be configured in a variety of ways to form custom vertiports that address specific business floor-plan and functionality requirements.
With room to grow
With planning and foresight, additional vertiport terminals can be delivered to site as demand and traffic grows.
Passenger experience is everything
Passenger traffic flows and universal design principles were key drivers in the design of the vertiport interior environment. Additionally, careful thought was given to surrounding landscaping and vertiport access. Integration of natural habitats, outdoor seating and walkways combine to create a pleasant arrival or departing experience.
Air mobility doing more
Recent rises in urban living costs, the pandemic, and the rise of remote work are fueling a trend towards de-urbanization. This trend, coupled with an immediate need for climate change action presents a broad set of opportunities for the sustainable revitalization of regional communities. Strategically planned, designed and developed Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure can immediately help communities capitalize on this shift.
An electrical ‘hub’
Vertiport terminals sited at general use airports can double as centralized electricity hubs that harvest, store and operate on clean energy. Beyond their own self-sufficiency, they can serve as a ‘home’ or ‘dock’ for electric municipal vehicles such as school buses when not in use. Surplus reserves can be equitably fed to the surrounding community.
Opportunity for expansion
Vertiport terminals sited at general use airports can double as centralized electricity hubs that harvest, store and operate on clean energy. Beyond their own self-sufficiency, they can serve as a ‘home’ or ‘dock’ for electric municipal vehicles such as school buses when not in use. Surplus reserves can be equitably fed to the surrounding community.
