Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Seismic and Security Upgrades

2013
Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

RESPEC provided mechanical and electrical design services for the $145 million, multiphased renovation to the South Terminal facility at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. The seismic and security upgrades project was constructed under a Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) delivery method, which allowed RESPEC, along with the design team working with the general contractor and subcontractors, to bring the project to within budget.
The mechanical and electrical systems were part of a comprehensive commissioning process. Additional requests by Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, including the interior remodeling of the A Concourse, were efficiently handled with the subcontractors during the construction phase to maintain the project completion dates.

The mechanical portion of the project included extensive upgrades to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and the system controls. The mechanical systems project also consisted of replacing six mechanical rooms and significantly renovating three additional rooms. Modifications were made to the central heating and chiller plants, and a new boiler and cooling tower was installed.

To understand the existing mechanical systems, as well as review and gain the approval of the new systems proposed, RESPEC collaborated closely with airport facility employees throughout the project. A study was completed to evaluate using a well-water cooling process in the early stages of the project; however, the process was not implemented because of the initial costs.

The electrical and telecommunications portions of the project provided for extending the existing power, lighting, fire alarm, telephone, data, public address, flight information display systems (FIDS), access control, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems as well as installing new systems. Modifications were made to six of the ten electrical service distribution systems, and new distribution and utilization equipment were implemented to provide normal, emergency, and standby power. Provisions were incorporated for 400 hertz (Hz) of power to the A and B Concourse passenger boarding bridges to meet with current and future complement of the aircraft. The interior passenger ramp and apron lighting were upgraded and a study of the existing apron-lighting systems was performed that resulted in the correct aim of the existing pole-mounted fixtures to provide low-glare lighting over a 150- to 200 foot- (ft-) wide commuter aircraft ramp area. The interior lighting systems included a balance of fixtures to meet the functional and esthetic needs of the space as well as daylight controls to reduce energy consumption. With the evolving post-9/11 circumstances considered, power and communications to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening and baggage handling areas were accommodated during the design phase and well into construction.

Fire-suppression systems were also installed and consisted of an electric fire pump and wet and dry sprinkler protection systems. Access and security systems during the design and construction phases transitioned between two, airport-wide systems. The fire-detection and alarm systems were expanded and integrated with the security system at the controlled-access doors located throughout the A and B Concourses, as well as the original ticket lobby and TSA screening areas. Fire-alarm system controls were incorporated using Intelligent Control Modules (ICM) over the elevator, baggage area, HVAC systems, and security area.