b'20 MSPBAGGAGE alone has a sizable impact and alsomore than 35 years ago and says theoperations occurring inside the same brings invaluable recognition to theairports latest evolution represents anlittle box, he says.region. Last year alone, it receivedinflection point from past to future. Some of the removed carousels were three high-profile honors: best NorthMSP evolved, kind of piecemealbuilt by Rapistan Systems in the 1960s, American airport in a global passengerover time, and each little step wasntso the new replacement units from survey by Airports Council International;a breaking point, Peterson explains.Mechanica Sistemi of Italy are notable top airport in the United States byBut to keep doing that over decadesupgrades.readers of Travel + Leisure magazine;and decades, at a certain point there and first among airports with moreThose carousels are highly are only so many incremental movesengineered Italian Ferraris, says than 33 million annual passengers inyou can make to solve what problems the annual J.D. Power North AmericaMontgomery, praising their durability youve got right now. This project wasand ease of maintenance in particular. Airport Satisfaction Study.that much-needed reset.MSPs rise to prominence hasRemoving overhead conveyors and Materials, finishes and other designrelocating ductwork required extensive been assisted by a pair of hometownelements incorporated in the lengthy companies and longtime partners:coordination, but the results were Terminal 1 modernization will carry overtransformative, says Jim Hayes, a Alliiance and Morcon Construction. to future improvements, beginning with Morcon superintendent.Alliiance is a planning, architectureupcoming work on Concourse G, he adds. and interior design firm that hasBefore, you came down the Morcon Construction, the airportsescalators and it was dark with very low been involved with various terminalother key local partner, is headquartered improvements since 1978, includingceilings. Now, you come into baggage in Fridley, just north of the Twin Cities.claim and its wide open, bright and recent design work for the OperationalIt has consistently worked as a general Improvements Program.enjoyable, he remarks.contractor at MSP for more than Eric Petersonfour decades. For this project, theLooking back, Rief recalls some doubles ascompany was tasked with expandingnervousness when telling the airports company presidentthe baggage claim footprint andthen CEO about her desire to disrupt and the principalupgrading the baggage handling systemthe airports appearance and operations leader of its Aviationand carousels. Vice President Joefor a multiyear renovation. Breaking Group. He cut hisMontgomery notes that Morcon enjoysdown each phase into smaller, more professional teeththe challenges of working in an airportmanageable jobsall offset with constant on an MSP projectERIC PETERSON environment. communicationkept things manageable and less disruptive to users, she notes. You work all night and theres a high, crazy risk that something may notOnce the first set of revamped operate as it should, come 4 oclock incarousels was unveiled, Rief knew the the morning. And if you made a mistake,temporary pain would all be worthwhile it would be on the news, Montgomeryin the end.muses. Youve got to have a little bit ofPeople could see we were really excitement, otherwise Id be bored andcreating spaces that looked just like all wouldnt do it. those pretty pictures we had drawn all This time around, the adrenalinethose years ago, she says. The visual surge stemmed from challengesimprovements alone would make this associated with working at a site thatworthwhile, without the efficiencies and itself was working around the clock. customer improvements that came with the projects.Its all planning to determine how you can install equipment in placesAdds Ilvonen: This is not just a where equipment exists and yet keeppeople-processor. Its a stressful the airport functioning, Montgomeryenvironment the passengers are going explains. If the bag belt system doesntthrough, so how do you make this an run, the airport doesnt run. enjoyable experience?To achieve its goals, Morcon installedMSP represents Minnesota as a many temporary systems, including upgateway, he continues. It should reflect to 7,000 linear feet of baggage beltsthe people, the culture and the great that were later removed and recycled.outdoor environment. Thats something Teams worked nights and other oddthe airport tries to sprinkle into the schedules to avoid disrupting airportoverall flavor of itthat this is about Minnesota. January | February 2025AirportImprovement.com'