MSP Airport Revitalization

THE PROJECT

Project Highlights

Multi-phased operational improvement of a 60-year old terminal
36’ x 16’-6” ellipse opening to accommodate 29 ft high glass and metal art sculpture
Extensive structural steel retrofit

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Revitalization Program kicked off a four-phase, multi-year project of renovations at the airport to match future passenger demand in the Twin Cities. Phase 1 of the operational improvements project aimed to provide an efficient program layout and upgrade departures and arrivals technology to decrease processing times. The 73,000-square-foot first phase updated ticketing, claim devices, and inbound/outbound baggage systems. At the Arrivals level, improvements included a gathering space, four new claim devices, conveyors, and laydowns. At the Departures level, improvements included central restrooms and amenities, ticket kiosks and counters, bag drops, conveyors, oversize bag screening, and tub returns. MBJ provided structural engineering and protective design consulting services for the program.

OUR IMPACT

UNIQUE STRUCTURAL

solutions for efficient layout and technological upgrades

INCREASED CAPACITY

of baggage claim 50% by utilizing slim interstitial structure

IMPROVED QUALITY

of indoor air by installing air displacement ventilation

Service Provided

Structural engineering
Protective design consultant

OUR SOLUTIONS

To provide the efficient layout and technological upgrades for the MSP Airport, unique structural solutions were needed throughout the terminal to accommodate the program elements. MBJ installed air displacement ventilation at the arrivals level to improve indoor air quality and increase energy efficiency. Built into the four new expanded claim devices, the supply and return duct openings were framed through the existing two-way reinforced concrete slab. Intricate phased structural work over several projects was required to infill previous adjacent escalator openings and carve a large ellipse opening between the ticketing and baggage claim levels in Terminal 1. Bringing a signature centerpiece for the terminal transformation, the ellipse created space to suspend a 29-foot-high glass and metal sculpture by American artist Jen Lewin. “The Aurora” art installation reflects the beauty of the Minnesota landscape using live weather data and allows daylight to filter into the arrival spaces below.

Supporting the inbound baggage upgrades, an interstitial space between the arrivals and departures level allowed for better maintenance access. MBJ utilized a slim interstitial structure in order to allow for proper arrivals level ceiling clearance and maintenance head height. A corridor extending over the departures level check-in counters provided the Owner future flexibility of the mezzanine spaces and allowed for heating/cooling systems to better serve the departures lobby. Our team performed an extensive structural steel retrofit to cantilever the corridor 10 feet out from the original 1960’s mezzanine structure and eliminate the need for columns in the ticketing space. Between the interstitial space and departures level, new checked bag drops from departures level to the outbound baggage system needed to maintain minimum vertical clearance. Due to the depth restrictions, MBJ cast the new concrete beams into the existing slab to frame the openings.

MBJ’s blast specialists performed vehicle perimeter hardening and progress collapse design for new expansions and hardening of existing structures.