Historic $900M Green Build Expansion Opens at San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Green Build expansion at San Diego International Airport recently opened, marking the completion of the largest project in the airport’s history. The Green Build was completed on schedule and is expected to be $45 million under budget. The project was built by two joint venture teams: Kiewit/Sundt and Turner/PCL/Flatiron. The architect was HNTB.

Key features include :

• 10 new gates to reduce terminal congestion and provide expanded, more comfortable passenger waiting areas; highlights include new seating equipped with built-in cup holders, electrical outlets and USB ports.
• Dual-level roadway to relieve curb-front traffic congestion by separating arriving and departing passengers.
• Enhanced curbside check-in, allowing passengers to print boarding passes, check baggage and view gate information at one of 27 easy-to-use curbside kiosks or 32 airline/Skycap counter check-in positions before entering the terminal.
• New security checkpoint with more lanes to improve flow of passengers through the terminal, keeping lines and security wait times down; up to 12 lanes can be opened during peak travel periods, as needed, increased from six.
• New 25,000 square-foot ticket lobby, with 32 airline counter check-in positions and 10 self-service kiosks.
• Expanded, 9,200 square-foot concessions area called Sunset Cove, where passengers can relax before their flights and take in views of the airfield and Point Loma.
• More dining and shopping options.

Called “The Green Build” due to the Airport Authority’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, as well as positive economic impact, the project created a role for 7,000 workers, including local, small, disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses. A positive outcome of the Airport Authority’s aggressive small business outreach program was that more than $415 million in contracts were awarded to local businesses, with $118 million going to small businesses.

The green build is designed to achieve LEED-Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council — a testament to the airport’s commitment to sustainability — and may achieve LEED Gold. Official LEED status is under consideration and is expected by mid-2014.