b'SECURITYBAK 69Culture ShiftThe original project design, developed by BAKs airport engineer, Woolpert Inc., called for 10-foot fencing around the terminal building, surrounding the airport perimeter and between hangars. We believed it to be the safest and most secure option, Payne says.But tenants who were accustomed to unfettered movement on airport grounds saw things differently. They accepted the plan for 10-foot perimeter fencing, but some questioned the need for fencing between hangar buildings. The airport board listened to tenant input for more than five months before deciding on the safest option for the traveling public. Multiple changes were made during the period of public input, and many other minor modifications were made during the course of the project while working with individual tenants. In the end, airport officials satisfied the wide range of concerns and objectives by adding access roads on the backside of hangars and installing 4-foot fencing to secure the backside of each hangar building from the general public. The new roads allow tenants and external personnel such as trash collectors and delivery drivers to access hangars from the landside. This facilitates everyday operations for tenants, but boosts airside security and keeps ancillary vehicles off the airfield.Changing MindsetsPayne notes that getting tenants on board with the project required a targeted outreach effort. John Baer, project manager at Woolpert, headed the initiative. Though the pandemic raged on, Baer and key airport team members first considered virtual meetings their best option to gather and understand stakeholder concerns. To minimize risk, they then met with individual tenants at their hangars (rather than meeting en masse) and observed social distancing guidelines. We presented the project and asked for theirJOHN BAERfeedback, Baer explains of the two-day virtual effort. Payne and his team applied the money toward aWe told them we would consider their input, not that we could or could not large-scale project that included new perimeter fencing,accommodate each request. There were 60+ based users affected by the fencing between the airports 23 hangars, new back- project. access drives and parking areas near hangars.Input gathered during the various meetings prompted about 20 changes This is a huge improvement that our airport hasto the project design. Among them, BAK adjusted the fence layout, added needed for some time, Payne remarks. We moveddriveways and parking lots, and agreed to install security lighting, at the from total unimpeded access to a totally secure airportairports expense, for tenants who request it. with fences, gates and security. The new beefed-up security is more in keeping with an airport of its size and traffic. We are a small community of just 45,000 people, but [BAK is] the fourth-busiest airport in Indiana, Payne explains, noting that it averages 140 flight operations a day. This is a busy airport. We have many corporations and businesses headquartered here. We also havePlanninga significant amount of military air traffic, with twiceDELTA AIRPORT Engineeringas many operations as other airports with militaryCONSULTANTS, INC. Environmentaloperations in Indiana. It is essential for us to keep ourIndustry Analysiswww.deltaairport.com Program Management military men and women safe.Construction AdministrationBusiness & Financial PlanningAirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2022'