MSP International Airport Concourse G Expansion

THE PROJECT

Project Highlights

Developed a coordinated material reuse strategy by identifying salvageable steel, verifying material properties, and managing documentation to deliver a cost-effective, low-carbon supply chain
40 tons of structural steel reclaimed, with 27 tons reused and 2.9 tons available for future reuse
Approximately $100,000 in construction cost savings through material reuse

MSP International Airport Concourse G Expansion adds approximately 157,000 square feet of new public space while demonstrating how existing infrastructure can support future growth. Expanding both upward and outward, the project infills the space between two gate pods to create a more open, efficient layout for gates, concessions, retail, and award-winning restrooms. To support the expansion, MBJ repurposed structural steel from an obsolete 1985 pedestrian bridge, coordinating its deconstruction, testing, storage, and reuse within the new expansion. This innovative approach reduced embodied carbon, minimized material waste, and established a repeatable model for circular steel reuse across the airport campus.

OUR IMPACT

TRANSFORMING OBSOLETE STRUCTURES

into long-term value

27 TONS OF STEEL

integrated into new building design

CIRCULAR DESIGN

through reuse of steel beams

Service Provided

Structural engineering

OUR SOLUTIONS

Viewing the decommissioned pedestrian bridge as a resource rather than waste, the MBJ team developed a repeatable process for structural steel circularity. Beginning in 2022, the team identified reusable members, coordinated selective deconstruction, verified material properties through testing and documentation, cataloged the inventory, and managed on-site storage until construction of the 2024 expansion. The reclaimed steel was then redesigned and re-fabricated to meet current building requirements before being seamlessly integrated into the new concourse. By coordinating material harvesting, inventory management, engineering verification, and phased construction across a single-owner campus, MBJ demonstrated how circular steel reuse can reduce embodied carbon, lower costs, and provide a scalable model for future airport infrastructure projects.