Airport Experience® News - ACDBE & Small Business Issue 2024

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was diverted from landfills” and that Concourse A’s redesign process “is on track to earn Green Globes certification,” which recognizes sustainability efforts during design and construction. The $241 million project - funded by a combination of passenger facility charge bonds, non-PFC bonds and a North Carolina Airport Improvement Program state grant - is also the work of several Charlotte-based companies: architecture firm C Design , contractors JE Dunn and construction firm McFarland , with additional collaboration by New York-based architecture firm Perkins&Will . For the C Design team, CLT’s expansion was an opportunity to create a pleasingly modern terminal aesthetic with environmentally friendly infrastructure. “The architectural design of the concourses features large expanses of dynamic glazing and wing-like roof structures, all unified by a wave of LED-lit fins to evoke a sense of movement, which is fitting for the bustling airport,” says Gary Beal, aviation market leader and principal for C Design. “Both expansion phases aim for Green Globes certification, with the first phase already certified. CLT’s commitment to sustainability is captured in the architecture as well through airfoil shaped solar control devices and electrochromic glass, maximizing the daylighting and views provided by two-story windows throughout the space,”

in winter 2020 but the pandemic led the team to pause the start of construction until May 2022. The updated concourse, which is currently scheduled to open in September 2024, will add 191,848 square feet to the airport’s terminal space, including 10 new gates, higher ceilings, and a wider terminal feel. Improvements range from the installation of new art works (including an aviation-themed mural from artist Valerie Britton composed of aeronautical maps and flight patterns), the opening of concessions and retail concepts to logistical upgrades like new restrooms, seats equipped with charging capabilities and auto-tinting window glass designed to help sustainably regulate sunlight and temperatures in the concourse. “We are excited to offer our customers spacious holdrooms with natural light, amenities such as in-seat charging and experiential exhibits that provide our customers an opportunity to learn while on their journey,” adds Christine. Other health and sustainability measures include energy efficient lighting (including natural lighting in the gate area), water saving toilets and sinks in the airport’s new restrooms, HVAC system enhancements to prioritize indoor air quality and UV filters to reduce airborne viruses. CLT has also prioritized a sustainable building practice, adds Christine, noting that “over 70% of waste generated during construction

Above: Last year was a record year for Charlotte Douglas International Airport. At 53.4 million passengers annually, the airport ranks ninth among U.S. airports in passengers served.

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AX NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2024