Duluth International Airport

THE PROJECT

Project Highlights

110,000 SF terminal
Curved roof over the landside pavilion with double cantilevered corners
High bay space with ceilings up to 34 feet above finished floor

Duluth International Airport Terminal replaced the original 1970 terminal and expanded capacity, flow, and convenience for 300,000+ passengers annually. The three-story, 110,000-square-foot, LEED Silver terminal is designed to reflect the beauty of the region. At the entrance, a large pavilion with a curved roof inspired by the rolling waves of Lake Superior, double cantilevered corners, and glass curtainwall rises 34 feet, providing passengers a sheltered waiting area for vehicle pick-up and drop-off. The terminal is provisioned for future expansion to the east and west, as well as one vertical story in certain locations.

OUR IMPACT

ECONOMIZED

structural steel beam sizing

6 STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

pricing options presented

LEED SILVER

certification

Service Provided

Structural engineering

OUR SOLUTIONS

The terminal structure is framed with composite steel and set on conventional spread footings. The building’s lateral-load resisting system is composed of concrete shear walls and braced frames. During the structural system selection phase, MBJ provided six different structural system pricing options including a cast-in-place concrete/structural steel hybrid, composite steel framing, precast plank on steel beams, and an all precast system. In addition to cost, acoustical requirements and geometry played strong roles in the final system selection.

To help mitigate jet noise coming from the nearby 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, the acoustician on the project recommended a structural dead load of 100 pounds per square foot over the 3rd floor office spaces and 50 per square foot over the landside pavilion. MBJ specified concrete slab thicknesses to provide the required dead load and economize the structural steel beam sizing. Architectural finishes include curtain walls and metal panels over the majority of the building exterior.