b'18 GRROPERATIONSFord Intl Builds New Airport Operations CenterBY PAUL NOLANAt a time when many employersResponding to Growthare scaling back traditional officesThe new airport operations center is located in favor of work-from-homeeast of the terminal, and includes both FACTS&FIGURESarrangements, airport operators still needairside and landside access. The building Project: New Airport Operations Center the bulk of their teams on site. However,is staffed 24/7 with one to eight people as Location: Gerald R. Ford Intl AirportGrand Rapids, MI that doesnt mean they are satisfied withneed dictates. status quo facilities. Size: 12,000 sq. ft. (single story with partial basement) With approximately 12,000 square Features: Enhanced technology, including new videoCreating a better workspace was thefeet of space, the new facility resolves wall; conference room & break room; heated parking bay fordriving force in early 2020 when executivesformer overcrowding issues for the airport. operations vehicles; snow melt system on sidewalkat Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)Previously, the Emergency Operations Cost: $8.5 million committed to building a new operationsCenter (EOC) was housed in the airport center. In addition to housing everydayrescue and fire fighting (ARFF) station, and Funding: Local fundsoperations functions and equipment, the Construction: Early 2021Sept. 2022 the operations and communications teams $8.5 million building includes an upgradedworked out of a cramped area on the Architect: DLZ of Michigan emergency operations center for the Grandmezzanine level.General Contractor: Pioneer Construction Rapids, MI, airport. The EOC is designed to support both Furnishings Manufacturer: HaworthConstruction on theairport tenants and mutual aid agencies Furnishings Dealer: Interphase Inc. single-story buildingfrom Kent County during a wide variety Subcontractors: Buist Electric; Burggrabe Masonry;(with partial basement)of emergency situations. The new facility Cripps Fontaine Excavating; CS Erickson; Evans; Formanstarted in early 2021includes a data center, video walls and Glass; Gale Plumbing & Hydronics; Grand Valley Automation;and was completedspecial document review spaces, plus an Harder & Warner; Kosters & De Vries; Level 5 Commercialin September 2022.office, conference room and break spaces. Finishing; Metal Tech Building Specialists; Parkway; PeterLisa Carr, the airportIt has room and equipment for training, as Basso Associates; Praise Companies; Prein & Newhof;authoritys publicLISA CARRSecurAlarm; VanLaan Concrete Construction; Van Dykenwell as space employees can use to work Mechanical; Van Dellen Steel; Versatile Roofing Systems;safety and operations director, reports thatindependently when their shifts overlap. Tele-Rad; Total Fire Protection; Westmaas Electric the project stayed on schedule despite encountering supply chain delays and costThis fixed a lot of problems that came Key Benefits: More space/better work environment forwith the overall growth of our airport, staff; built to withstand extreme weather conditions increases.January | February 2023AirportImprovement.com'