San Diego International Airport Terminal 2 West

HNTB's design achieved the world’s first LEED Platinum certification for a commercial airport terminal. Designers incorporated sustainable elements, such as natural daylighting in the “Sunset Cove” atrium, reducing power consumption. Pre-conditioned air and a 400-Hz ground power gate system allow aircraft to turn off their engines and auxiliary power unit, reducing air emissions and fuel costs. Additional sustainable design efforts saved the airport approximately 4 million gallons of water annually.

The airport’s largest expansion serves as an example of sustainability, passenger convenience and design-build delivery

• BIM resolves 1,600 issues, identifies thousands of virtual clashes
• Terminal is world’s first airport to earn highest LEED® certification

Part of a design-build team, HNTB was lead architect of record and engineer for the San Diego International Airport’s 526,000-square-foot expansion.

Using building information modeling software, the design-build team resolved more than 1,600 coordination issues and identified thousands of virtual clashes before they happened, which dramatically shortened the project schedule.

The expansion added 10 gates, a food court/retail marketplace, a larger security screening area and an in-line baggage screening matrix, a “Smart Curb” and full common-use passenger processing systems. A related airside expansion included 1.3 million square feet of new aircraft apron and taxiway areas.

The award-winning terminal expansion is the world’s first to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable features include a rooftop photovoltaic panel, highly efficient lighting, a sophisticated building management system and a heavily insulated building envelope.