Award of Merit, Airport/Transit: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Main Security Checkpoint Standardization and Optimization

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Main Security Checkpoint Standardization and Optimization

Atlanta

Award of Merit

Submitted by New South-Synergy JV

Owner City of Atlanta, Dept. of Aviation

Lead Design Firm The Creative Eye

General Contractor New South-Synergy JV

Subcontractors Analogic; Cleveland Electric; Knight Construction

Renovating the passenger security checkpoint serving the world’s busiest airport required extensive coordination with multiple stakeholders, with each task having to be carefully planned weeks in advance to ensure alignment with governing agency schedules and requirements.

Each of the project’s five phases involved removal and installation of three to four lanes within an active checkpoint, with upgrades including new ceilings, lighting, mechanical systems, flooring and installation of power/data infrastructure to support the security equipment. Approval for infrastructure shutdowns had to be obtained each night from airport authorities with the stipulation that all systems be fully operational by 5:00 a.m. each day.

The discovery of improperly installed lighting wiring at the project outset threatened to complicate the sequencing of the ensuing security system installation.

Another challenge involved the installation of custom metal ceiling panels, which were delayed due to long-lead times and other issues. To avoid disrupting the commissioning of security equipment, the team constructed a movable scaffold platform that bridged over each security lane, allowing construction to continue overhead without impacting the equipment.

Despite these challenges, the team completed the project ahead of schedule and under budget and ensured that passenger traffic was uninterrupted and the highest standards of security and operational efficiency were maintained.