Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2025

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Left: Part of the $150 million airport upgrade is a new Federal Inspection Station. International service is growing at FAT, particularly flights to and from Mexico.

international terminal into reality,” adds Brian Mills, senior project manager at Q&D Construction. “The process of designing and constructing to meet the project’s overall goals and the needs of the Fresno Airport has been challenging. However, the City of Fresno Airports Department has been a great partner and Q&D Construction aims to deliver this project on time and under budget.” The philosophy behind the terminal’s expansion design “is a modest exterior design where form follows function, and exterior materials match the existing building,” adds Martin Hahle, principal architect CSHQA. “The real focus is on the interior and passenger experience,” he says. “The interior is bright and open with natural light and a material palette that is reflective of the natural beauty of the local valley and mountain terrain – sense of place is defined by an integrated art program with murals, sculptures, and a terrazzo floor design, inspired by the San Joaquin river that is the life blood of the agricultural community throughout the region.” To make sure the new terminal space expresses the vibrancy of its surrounding region, the teams have partnered with the Fresno Arts Council to showcase a multitude

The expansion will add a new domestic and international terminal concourse; new boarding areas; two additional aircraft parking positions; a new Federal Inspection Station (FIS); an expanded TSA checkpoint screening area as well as a friends and family welcome plaza for international arrivals to the terminal. The $150 million project is funded by a combination of Federal Infrastructure grants including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants, Passenger Facility Charges, Measure C grants from the County of Fresno, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) grant and Airport Revenue Bonds. The team at FAT worked with design firm CSHQA and construction firm Q&D Construction LLC using a progressive design-build method that allowed “for the designer and the general contractor to work together with the airport from the very beginning, to design the terminal to meet our needs,” says Thompson. “[The approach] allowed them to both be connected in the

process from the very beginning.” FAT, CSHQA and Q&D also worked together to implement new sustainability measures across the facility’s new spaces, including energy efficient HVAC systems, water efficient fixtures, solar power and LED lighting, says Thomson, adding that “a lot went into making sure that we met the latest standards for sustainability.” “I was very excited and proud when the City of Fresno entrusted Q&D Construction and CSHQA to turn their vision of a new

Right: Plans call for Hudson to operate both a pre-security Einstein Bros. Bagels/Hudson hybrid store, a post-security Brookstone/Hudson store as well as multiple post-security travel convenience stores.

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AX NEWS FEBRUARY 2025