Gracie WarhurstAirport Business released its fifth-annual Projects of the Year Awards, honoring five airports across new terminal, sustainability, facility rehabilitation, environmental and technology categories. The recipients are innovators in airport improvement projects who the magazine has chosen to honor.
“In an era where the aviation industry faces unprecedented challenges, from environmental concerns to evolving passenger expectations, these awards shine a spotlight on the innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping the future of air travel,” Aviation Pros, the online platform of Airport Business, wrote in a release.
New Terminal
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) was awarded project of the year for its new $1.5 billion terminal, which opened Feb. 28, 2023. The new terminal replaces the three original terminals from MCI’s original construction in 1973. Covering 1.1 million square feet, the single terminal spans two levels and has a 6,220-space parking garage.
“It took vision, grit, determination, and collaboration among many teams to deliver our terminal modernization program on time and under budget,” Kansas City Aviation Department Director of Aviation Melissa Cooper told Aviation Pros.
Sustainability
Illinois’ Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) received the sustainability award for its 2.88 megawatts solar initiative. The $6 million project will save the airport up to $350,000 in energy costs annually.
Consisting of six roof- and ground- mounted solar arrays across three locations, the energy savings are equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from 8 million miles of driving or consumption of 7,500 barrels of oil.
“This solar project will satisfy our goals and objectives to provide our facility with a significant new revenue source, environmentally friendly and sustainability attributes while deepening our relationships with our tenants and community stakeholders,” executive director of SPI Mark Hanna said in a statement.
Facility Rehabilitation
For its $800 million renovated terminal, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) took home the facility rehabilitation award. The BOS Terminal E project modernized the space by adding 320,000 square feet of terminal and upgrading 70,000 square feet of the area.
One aspect of the newly unveiled Terminal E is a dynamic roofline that shields customers from direct sunlight and features a color-changing design.
“The building is the first and last terminal you see arriving and departing the airport,” AECOM principal architect Terry Rookard told Aviation Pros. “It becomes a new Boston landmark and is an iconic ‘front door’ to the airport campus.”
Environment
Syracuse Hancock International Airport’s (SYR) new glycol collecting and recycling facility won the environment award. Aircraft deicing fluid is a mixture of glycol-based ingredients and can now be reused and eventually resold.
The SYR’s glycol recycling facility will produce up to 550,000 gallons of Type I aircraft deicing fluid and 5 to 7 gallons of reusable water annually.
“Not only will we recycle the glycol utilized at our airport, but our partnership with airports across the region will extend that environmental stewardship well beyond our fence line,” Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) Executive Director Jason Terreri told Aviation Pros.
Technology
The Digital Journey of Surprises, a collection of multimedia installations in Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), is a high-tech combination of standard airport signage and displays of New Jersey culture. Its pixelated canvases, direct-view LED pillars and multi-sided displays won EWR the technology award.
“We collaborated with Electrosonic and Moment Factory to develop the unique use of dynamic displays to tell this story along with the ability to have the content change as the seasons change, to allow this facility to feel fresh and inviting for many years to come,” Nanolumens Global Director of Airports and Transportation Todd Alan Green told Aviation Pros.
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