More travelers lead to more airport improvements. San Diego International Airport’s new International Arrivals Facility in Terminal 2 West increases capacity and expands processing areas.

The facility’s new destination required repurposing six existing aircraft gates into independent swing gates that can accommodate three wide body and three narrow body aircrafts. The relocation and expansion project included nearly 55,000 square feet of new construction and 75,000 square feet of remodeled space. Improvements also included adding a second baggage reclaim device and more queuing space to support Customs and Border Protection’s latest processing efficiencies. 

The International Arrival Facility’s vast scope and scale required a multi-phased permit approach and nearly 750,000 hours of labor. PCL worked on as many as 20 different project spaces each day to meet schedule deadlines while complying with security protocols and appearing invisible to airport guests. When airline relocations required the team to be airside, we maintained security protocols and did not disrupt airport operations.

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) is a leading curator of artwork that defines the environment of San Diego. Much like the airport’s Terminal 2 West Green Build, the International Arrivals Facility features an array of stunning artwork and sculptures to pique the public’s interest.

Along with meeting the wide span of work on a strict deadline, we found innovative value engineering solutions to reduce project costs and accelerate the schedule. The original structural frame called for 40 pounds of steel per square foot. The team recommended using Customs and Border Protection blast protection requirements instead of TSA requirements, which removed the need for a costly Vierendeel Truss system and dropped the steel quantity to 24 pounds per square foot. 

It is typical for steel mills to fabricate similar steel shapes and sizes in cycles to maximize efficiency. PCL reviewed the steel sizes that local mills were producing at the time and incorporated these into the design of the steel frame. Doing so accelerated the schedule and allowed us to begin the structural steel procurement one month early. 

Though many other contractors said a project of this magnitude and schedule could not be completed on time, construction remained on schedule and generated $103 million in contracts to local business and subcontractors.