New York Best Projects
Award of Merit Airport/Transit: Buffalo Niagara International Airport Passenger Terminal Improvements
Photo courtesy The Pike Co.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport Passenger Terminal Improvements
Buffalo, N.Y.
Award of Merit
Submitted By: The Pike Co.
Owner: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
Lead Design Firm, Structural Engineer: Jacobs
General Contractor: The Pike Co.
Civil & Pluming Engineer | Landscape Architect: Watts Architecture & Engineering
MEP Engineer: CHA
Subcontractors: John W. Danforth; Frey Electric; Rodriquez Construction; Automatic Systems Inc.; Crystal Steel; R.E. Krug; Union Concrete; Tiede Zoeller; Manning Squires; IdealConcrete
Upgrades to this western New York airport provide more space, a better flow and a modernized design for travelers.
Across two floors, the improvements included 54,000 sq ft of expansion and 38,000 sq ft of renovation as well as the creation of a new baggage claim area—all done while maintaining the iconic features of the existing building, which dates to the late 1930s.
The airport’s east side, which handles about 70% of facility traffic, now features a much larger 41,000-sq-ft exiting concourse that has a spacious meet-and-greet area.
Work continued during the pandemic and associated shutdowns because the project was deemed essential for travel and tourism. The team also dealt with material procurement issues and employee safety concerns. However, COVID-19 also provided a boon, with significantly reduced passenger traffic allowing the owner to adjust some project phasing and enabling contractors access to more areas.
The team used the The Pike Co. in-house construction technology team for 3D MEP spatial coordination and site logistics planning for all phases. It also made use of a robotic total station to lay out the large curved ceiling in the baggage claim area. Final major construction finished four months ahead of schedule, in time for 2021 holiday travel. The $55-million project was completed at budget.
