Primer: Facilities

 

Facility issues have moved to the forefront of many airport agendas with growth in air travel expected to continue over the next 20 years. Construction projects involving expanded terminals, parking and cargo facilities have accelerated. At the same time, construction costs have buoyed, forcing airports to adopt smarter, more efficient and cost-effective designs.

 

What comprises facilities at airports?

Airport facilities deal with the planning, design, construction and management of the airside and landside infrastructure at airports. Facilities can encompass parking lots, rental car terminals, bus and taxi areas, traffic flow, airport terminals, airfield engineering, equipment life cycles and environmental sustainability.

 

Airport facilities workers deal with present-day issues as well as plan for emerging design needs that will accommodate increasing passenger flows, while recognizing the changes in the industry that will affect how passengers are processed through the flying experience.

 

Concerns that airports need to continually address currently include:

  • Innovative terminal design
  • Remote terminals
  • Rental car terminals
  • Parking garage innovation
  • Automated people mover technology

 

ACI-NA’s Role

ACI-NA has undertaken several initiatives to improve facility design and management, including efforts to educate members on alternative contracting methods that take advantage of design and contracting tools commonly used by private developers, but seldom used by public airport operators.

 

Environmental concerns

Environmental pressures play an increasingly important role in airports, as facility designers struggle with concepts of sustainability, green building design and life-cycle operations. To fall in line with the new “green world,” airports, like any other industry, are expected to reduce the environmental footprint of their facilities.

 

Greener airport facilities are being accomplished through:

  • Increased use of passive solar
  • LEED design
  • Advanced HVAC systems
  • Use of recycled materials and other methods

 

Working Together for a Greener Tomorrow

Several ACI-NA committees are involved in a series of sustainability sessions held during ACI-NA conferences. In addition, a series of alternative contracting workshops organized jointly with the Airports Consultants Council, Associated General Contractors and ACI-NA, have focused on these innovative contracting arrangements.  

 

Complied by Dick Marchi  (rmarchi@aci-na.org)

Senior Advisor, Government Affairs, Policy and Regulatory Affairs