Cover Story – August 2013
One of the stunning views of Lindbergh Field’s Terminal 2
Terminal Transformation
Lindbergh Field’s completed Green Build
project places the airport on a higher plane
On time and under budget.
No sweeter words were ever heard by the folks responsible for the multimillion-dollar construction project that has catapulted San Diego International Airport — Lindbergh Field — into a new era of commercial aviation.
The Green Build, as it was called, the largest project in the history of the airport, was designed not only to extend the life of the 85-year-old airport but to speed up air travel for passengers and give them access to a bounty of new shops and restaurants surrounded by striking works of art.
The public got to see the finished product on Aug. 13, when it was officially opened.
All of the work was centered on Terminal 2 and was pegged to cost $1 billion when ground was broken in 2009. Remarkably, the project was expected to finish $45 million under budget at a total cost of $907 million — $820 million for the project and the remainder in financing costs.
Funding for the Green Build came from user fees, airport revenue bonds, airport cash and FAA grants. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, which runs the airport, said a portion of the money savings was the result of two successful bond sales. It said it was able to secure significantly low true interest cost of 3.92 percent (2013) and 4.38 percent (2010), saving millions over the life of the bonds.
It was called the Green Build for several of its sustainability qualities.
Green Build Recap:
• Teb new gates to reduce terminal congestion and provide expanded, more comfortable passenger waiting areas; highlights include new seating equipped with built-in cup holders, electric outlets and USB ports.
• Dual-level roadway to relieve curb-front traffic congestion by separating arriving and departing passengers
• Enhanced curbside check-in, allowing passengers to print boarding passes, check baggage and view gate information at one of 27 easy-to-use curbside kiosks or 32 airline/Skycap counter check-in positions before entering the terminal.
• New security checkpoint with more security lanes to improve flow of passengers through the terminal, keeping lines and security wait times down; up to 12 lanes can be opened during peak travel periods, as needed, increased from six.
• New 25,000 square-foot ticket lobby, with 32 airline counter check-in positions and 10 self-service kiosks.
• Expanded, 9,200 square-foot concessions area called Sunset Cove, where passengers can relax before their flights and take in views of the airfield and Point Loma.
• More dining and shopping options, including Saffron, Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar, Seaside Stack Shack, Qdoba, Red Mango and Tommy V’s Pizzeria, located in Sunset Cove. Other shops and restaurants in the terminal expansion include Warwick’s of La Jolla, Pannikin Coffee & Tea, Brooks Brothers, Swarovski, PGA Tour Shops, Stone Brewing Co. and Phil’s BBQ.
“Each airport is different and unique, but I would certainly rank San Diego International as being one of the most customer friendly airports in our system,” said Thella Bowens, president and CEO of the Airport Authority. “It’s among the very top airports in the country.”
She said she was particularly proud of the separate roadway systems for arriving and departing passengers, which were designed to relieve vehicle and passenger congestion, one of the headaches suffered by patrons for years.
But Bowens also reserved praise for certain new Terminal 2 facilities not often mentioned by the builders and contractors. “The restrooms are phenomenal!” she beamed. “We wanted them to be bright, airy and have places where people can store their briefcases and other items. They have windows in them that allows light to come in. We really tried to anticipate what kind of features that would make people feel comfortable in the facilities.”
According to the Airport Authority, the Green Build created jobs for 7,000 workers and gave contracts to local, small, disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses. More than 415 million in contracts were awarded to local businesses and $118 million went to small businesses.
“We’re incredibly proud that The Green Build has funneled millions of dollars back into the San Diego economy,” said Robert Gleason, chairman of the Airport Authority. “We made a strong commitment to providing opportunities for small and local businesses to earn work on this project, and those efforts were a huge success.”
Two large building teams — the Kiewit/Sundt team and the Turner/PCL/Flatiron team — carried out the construction project.
Kiewit/Sundt, led by project director Mike Lowe of Poway, undertook the “land side” portion of the Green Build, including the dual-level roadway, parking and roadway improvements, and the check-in curb in front of Terminal 2, allowing most passengers to get their boarding passes and check bags at automated kiosks prior to entering the terminal.
The Turner/PCL/Flatiron team was responsible for the Green Build’s “air side,” which included a three-story, 460,000-square-foot expansion of Terminal 2, including a marketplace-style concession area and larger, more comfortable passenger waiting areas; 10 new gates; and 1,500,000 square feet of new taxiway and jet parking. The team was led by project director
Dan McGuckin of Carlsbad. The team’s lead designer was HNTB, an architecture, civil engineering consulting and construction management firm headquartered in
Kansas City, Mo.
“We’re especially excited about the traveler benefits of the new terminal expansion,” said McGuckin. “It will be a landmark building, and the new concessions area, with its high atrium ceiling, will be a real jewel. Travelers are going to love it.”
Despite the massive building project, Lindbergh Field remains the nation’s busiest single-runway airport. It is virtually landlocked, meaning no second runway is feasible. The Airport Authority said it is exploring other options and alternatives to meet the county’s air transportation needs for the next 30 years. Some options include developing a plan for Terminal 1, redevelopment of the Teledyne-Ryan property and improving the airport’s connections to the surrounding transportation network. “Beyond our borders, the Airport Authority is reaching out to neighboring counties and Mexico to explore more productive interaction between all airports in the Southern California region,” the agency said.
Shops and Restaurants in the Green Build
| FOOD | RETAIL |
| Artisan Market | Apricot Lane Boutique |
| Beaudevin…All the Beauty of Wine | Be Relax Spa |
| Bubbles Seafood and Wine Bar | Best Buy Express |
| Camden Food Co. | Brighton Collectibles |
| Einstein Bros Bagels | Brooks Brothers |
| Pannikin Coffee & Tea | Brookstone |
| Peet’s Coffee & Tea | CNBC News San Diego |
| Phil’s BBQ | Gaslamp Marketplace |
| Qdoba | Gaslamp News |
| Red Mango | Kids Love San Diego |
| Ryan Bros Coffee | Lindbergh Field News |
| Saffron | PGA Tour Shops |
| Seaside Stack Shack | Sound Balance |
| Starbucks | Sunglass Hut |
| Stone Brewing Co. | Stellar News |
| Tommy V’s Pizzeria | Swarovski |
| Urban Crave | Warwick’s of La Jolla |
