Engineering Inc. - September/October 2007 - (Page 26) MULTI-PROJECT FEATURE PROJECT: American Airlines Terminal Redevelopment Program at JFK International Airport, New York City FIRMs: DMJM Aviation, Tampa, Fla., and Transystems Corp., Kansas City, Mo. S ince the 1960s, American Airlines has operated out of two terminals at JFK International Airport in New York City. In an effort to modernize its operations and provide more efficient services, the airline recently consolidated its busy Terminal 8 and Terminal 9 into a single facility. The complex spans 110 acres, has 1.53 million square feet of space on four levels and boasts capacity to serve a staggering 12.8 million passengers annually. The new terminal features 36 gates, two concourses—one of which is connected by a 320-foot underground tunnel, 84 ticket counters, a baggage handling system with a throughput of 2,400 bags per hour, 42 concession areas, a comprehensive customs and immigration facility and security checkpoints capable of processing 1,925 travelers per hour. The $1.3 billion project got off the ground in 1998 with the architectural design of the facility. One concourse and the main terminal opened in 2005; the remaining concourse opened in May 2007. Two final gates are slated for com- pletion in spring 2008. The project was initiated by American Airlines as part of the JFK 2000 Redevelopment Program. Tampa, Fla.-based DMJM Aviation, the lead engineering firm and Architect of Record on the project until 2005, was responsible for the initial design of the entire 55-gate terminal. This included the pavement and drainage structures of the secured “airside” areas, the terminal structure—including lighting, signage, access control elements and landscaping—as well as the terminal’s mechanical, electrical and communication systems. “This terminal project was one of the few that came to fruition after the severe downturn experienced by the airline industry after 9/11,” recalls DMJM Vice President David Brown. “The design changes required during this period included the significant reduction of the number of gates from 55 to 36 and a wholesale design revision of the halfcompleted terminal interior.” Geological, environmental and operational challenges were present from the start. From an environmental perspective, the construction site—erected on swampland with five to 10 feet of compressible peat and organic silt layered in sand— required the support of several deep foundation piles. An even tougher challenge was to construct the 36-gate facility while keeping the existing 19 gates operational. “A complicated logistical exercise of four major phases was used JfK terminal a Lesson in teamwork 26 ENGINEERING INC. sEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2007 Dave Brown Michael Chelednik JFK’s new Terminal 8 is a state-ofthe-art facility. Eighty-four ticket counters (left) enable American Airlines to serve 12.8 million passengers annually.
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