Structure Type: Covered walkway
Project Scope:
Project Size: 70,000 sqft
Material: PTFE
Location: San Diego, CA
Completion Date: 2013
Market Segment: Infrastructure
Owner: San Diego Airport Authority
General Contractor: Kiewit/Sundt Joint Venture
Architect: URS Corporation
Engineer: Kiewit
Construction of San Diego International Airport’s Smart Curb concluded in 2014 as part of a major renovation project that updated the terminal facility with features including 10 new gates, curbside check-in, a dual-level roadway in front of the terminal, a doubling of security lanes to 12 total and an expanded concessions area.
The $1 billion expansion project was the first of its kind for the airport in 80 years, and incorporates state-of-the-art baggage technology, open-space terminal design elements, and increased common-use functionality.
For its part, PFEIFER Structures was responsible for the final design and construction of numerous canopy structures adorning the Smart Curb curbside check-in area. The structures included: 18 Pavilion canopies, 28 Elevated Department Roadway (EDR) canopies, 35 ground structure canopies, and 2 long-term parking canopies –all of which cover more than 70,000 square feet of surface area.
“We have assembled absolutely the most talented team of professionals working in the tensile industry right now. From concept to completion, our designers, engineers, and fabricators bring to the table an unparalleled level of experience that makes FabriTec Structures a true leader in tension fabric design,” said Garry Becker, President, PFEIFER Structures.
The design/build project delivery system for the San Diego International Airport marked a significant departure from the traditional design-bid-build system and is a relatively new concept to the public building community. The design/build process required a single point of contact and is used to minimize risks for the project owner, while also reducing the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. A typical design/build team consists of the project’s owners, an architect, and general contractor; in the San Diego International Airport’s case, that design/build team consists of San Diego International Airport (SAN), URS, PFEIFER Structures, and the joint venture of Kiewit-Sundt Construction.
