b'TERMINALSATL 45Our main intent was to keep the existingextensively with the project architect and structural and mechanical building and existing operations as much asengineers. A team also visited Dallas Fort Worth International Airport possible, says Gopi Swaminathan, associate(DFW), which used modular construction for a four-gate expansion in principal with project architect Corgan Aviation.2022. We came back fairly energized and said modular could be a After working through several constructioncomponent of the work, Rucker recalls.scenarios, the airlines and airport agreed to take[A full run-down of the DFW project is available online in the eight gates out of service for construction at aSeptember 2022 issue of Airport Improvement magazine.]time. To mitigate the operational impact of losingGOPI SWAMINATHANWe wanted to deliver the building at a faster rate than what eight gates, ATL constructed three additional gates on the north endwe usually do on a traditional development, so that is when the of Concourse E and transferred some of its low-cost carriers there.business case for modular construction started to make sense, That reduces the probability that well need eight gates at a time,Swaminathan explains. Rucker says. Its probably more like a five-gate range, but were continuing to evaluate as we go through the project. We know it would be less costly to knock down half a concourse at a time, adds Tom Nissalke, ATLs assistant general The airport is funding the lions share of the $1.4 billion projectmanager of Planning and Development. However, that option with airline fees and passenger facility charges, in roughly a 50/50would have had a greater impact on operations. split. A $40 million FAA Airport Terminals Program grant was secured to help offset the cost of the new Concourse E gates.The prime benefit of combining modular and traditional construction is efficiencymodular pieces are created at a remote Out-of-Box Thinking site while crews simultaneously work on the foundation and Rucker says ATL is fortunate to have creative minds on the projectinfrastructure pieces at the project site. team that proposed using modular construction, but it wasnt aWe are an airport first, a construction site second, Rucker decision the airport came to lightly. Leaders explored the ideaemphasizes. We have to consider the operations and the impact. MOVING PASSENGERS AND THE WORLD FORWARDScan the QR code to learn more about the innovative Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) - Concourse D Widening Modular ConstructionAirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2024'