The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved a $10 million, seven-year contract to modernize the terminal at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, with the award going to a joint venture of global tech and management provider, AECOM and Washington, D.C.-based architecture and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
“The objective is to improve the efficiency and the quality for BWI travelers,” said BWI spokesperson Jonathan Dean. “We hope to extend the convenience of the A/B terminal facility to older parts of the airport in order to create a consistent level of quality and travel experience.”
To accommodate Southwest’s extensive presence at the airport, in 2005 Concourses A and B were expanded, renovated and integrated with one another to house all of that airline’s operations at BWI. Southwest is the airport’s largest carrier, accounting for 55.76% of passengers carried as of March 2011.
The interior of BWI Marshall will receive upgrades, and passengers will also have more efficient security check-throughs. This photo depicts Terminal A/B. Photo: BWI Marshall Airport/Greg Pease
This latest contract is part of the ongoing BWI improvement plan that has been in the works for a decade. The AECOM/SOM contract will focus on improving terminal design and security circulation. In addition, new security checkpoints may be created, and the design of a secure corridor between concourses B and C is being discussed, as well.
The spending board’s approval is just for design work, and no schedule has been set for construction.
The board also approved awarding a $10 million contract to three firms for on-call interior and exterior improvement projects; and a $9 million contract was awarded to Sparks-based Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson for runway safety improvements.
An Economic ‘Bright Spot’
Improving BWI Marshall will boost the local economy in several ways, said Linda Greene, executive director of the BWI Business Partnership. “Travelers who come through will spend more money and, in addition, new food and retail outlets will mean new jobs. BWI is definitely a bright spot in Maryland’s economy.”
On that note, there’s proof in the numbers: A record 21.9 million passengers traveled through BWI Marshall in 2010, an increase of 4.7% from the previous year, with July being the busiest month ever in the airport’s history. That made BWI the 24th busiest airport in North America; in addition, it ranked 47th in the world in total aircraft movements.
In 2010, BWI was ranked as the best airport of its size in the world by the Airports Council International based on its 2009 Airport Service Quality survey. In 2010, BWI was ranked the second airport in North America by Airports Council International — North America for “Best Food and Beverage Program.”
‘Crown Jewel’
The airport represents a sense of economic vitality, particularly during this challenging time, said Barbara Floyd, president of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.
“The airport is one of the crown jewels of the Northern Anne Arundel County area. Its continued expansion and high passenger volume brings more visitors and businesses to the area, and more customers to our businesses. The airport expansion helps to garner continued and increased economic confidence to the area and its businesses.”
Another recently approved contract is allowing BWI Marshall to implement a comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program with the aim of generating substantial energy and operational savings. Specific energy conservation measures will include a new 505 kilowatt solar system on the top level of the BWI Marshall daily garage, comprehensive lighting improvements, energy infrastructure replacement projects at the airport’s central utility plant and main terminal building, and the installation of modern water conservation measures.
Another major improvement has been a new inline baggage screening system. The airport now has a new outbound baggage security system to help accommodate future airline growth.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
The table has been set for decades at BWI Marshall for expansion, said Jay Hierholzer, who served as head of marketing and development for the airport for 15 years beginning in 1985.
“BWI’s growth helps the whole state and especially central Maryland’s economic growth,” said Hierholzer, who is now a real estate consultant with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Given that BWI Marshall is one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S., keeping high customer service quality is challenging and important, he said. “Airport management is doing a great job of keeping foresight for the future.”
