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Galleries // 2013 Spark:Transport // Boeing SkyLoft

Boeing SkyLoft

Winner - Bronze

Competition: Spark:Transport
Designer: The Boeing Company & TEAGUE Design Teams
Design Type: Airplane Interior
Company / Organization / School: The Boeing Company & TEAGUE
Website: http://www.teague.com
Team Members: Design credits: Sang Koh, Herman Chan, Chuck Jensen, Kelly Davies and Michael Jaquish of TEAGUE; and Mark King, Dick Johnson and Marc Spane of The Boeing Company

While Boeing was able to identify space in the upper lobe that could be used, that space wasn’t currently vacant; traditionally the crown area is used to house air conditioning ducts and wiring. To ensure proper space for the SkyLoft interior, several systems runs had to be moved outboard including the ECS, electrical and flight control cables. In addition, reductions were made in the bulkhead frames to create room for the customizable shell. The SkyLoft shell takes up more than the volume of the centerline bin run, it’s also lower than the existing Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental lowered ceilings. The team was able to successfully integrate the existing linings with this new lower structure, minimizing the impact to main cabin. Additionally, the team was able to incorporate a light ring around the stair entry, allowing for a break in the ceiling panels to transition the surfaces down to a lower waterline. To demonstrate a compelling business case to the airlines, three scenarios were explored that had the potential for revenue generation depending on the airline’s market: • Public: An airline with a route that caters largely to tourists may choose to use the SkyLoft as a community space to sell branded, or destination inspired goods and/or services. • Personal: If an airline has a large number of business travelers, it could opt to rent out individual sleeping berths. • Private: A route that caters to affluent travelers might decide to rent out the entire space to one party for the duration of the flight.