McCarran Airport in Vegas Honored by ENR Southwest

Engineering News-Record Southwest recently honored the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas as a 2017 Regional Best Project. Our Henderson aviation team designed the gates expansion tunnel that was completed earlier this year.

According to the industry’s leading publication, “An ENR Best Projects Award is considered one of commercial construction’s most prestigious and coveted honors. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and honor the building teams who created the best projects of 2016-17 nationwide. These extraordinary projects are selected by juries of prominent industry professionals.”

“We used a hands-on approach throughout the bid process and engaged the DOA facility maintenance staff for design input, particularly regarding equipment serviceability, likes and dislikes,” said Bob Colasuonno, project manager and associate based out of our Las Vegas office. “Monthly check-in meetings were held to review and verify expectations in addition to conversations with subcontractors on how the system could be built.”

This 30,000 SF, $50 million project included an expansion tunnel from the Terminal 3 facility south to the northwest wing of the D gates. Underneath the tarmac is a 995-foot passenger circulation corridor for international travelers. Domestic gates at the “bell” area of the existing northeast wing were converted international gates through the extension of the new corridor system.

“Our design approach was unique in the sense that we were designing a 900-foot high-rise building and laying it horizontal,” Colasuonno noted. “The passageway was sectioned into four concurrent 200-foot lengths.”

Our team at Henderson put together a new mechanical design that features two zones of comfort cooling and smoke control through a new air handling unit and VAV system within the tunnel. A new chilled water supply and return line from the T3 central plant delivers chilled water to the air handling units of the new and previously existing D gates. Plumbing services include a duplex sump pump system for the foundation drainage, elevator sump pump system, and roof storm drain system for the exposed connection. The low voltage design for this expansion included IT design services for three new IDF rooms, door security, and CCTV security.

“One size doesn’t fit all,” Colasuonno explained. “Extraordinary spaces require distinctive system approaches. Our team approach and buy-in allowed us to meet all expectations. I am really proud of the work of our team – this award is a credit to all of them.”

Next time you arrive at the airport in the Entertainment Capital of the World, take a moment to enjoy the extraordinary work of our #TeamHenderson colleagues.

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