Award

78 | A PR IL 2018 Kelowna International Airport Expansion RENDERING COURTESY DIALOG Kelowna International Airport Expansion by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI K elowna International Airport (YLW) is in the process of completing several airside and air terminal building (ATB) projects as part of a Drive to 1.6 Million Passengers program developed from the Airport Master Plan 2025, which was completed under the direction of Kelowna City Council and the Airport Advisory Committee. A new program to support recommendations from a more recent Master Plan 2045 is currently being developed that will include expanding airport infrastructure, including phasing expansion of the ATB. "Passenger volumes are expected to continue growing over the next 20 years reaching 3.5 million passengers, and annual aircraft movements are forecast to increase to 100,000 per year by 2045," Sam Samaddar, airport director, told the local press. "This growth means YLW will need to continue expanding and building infrastructure for the foreseeable future." The Drive to 1.6 Million Passengers program has already completed a number of capital projects, the largest of which was the Outbound Baggage Hall, which renovated almost 50 per- cent of the existing ATB. The Outbound Baggage Hall was constructed from 2015 to 2017, during which time passenger numbers at YLW continued to grow by over 18 percent. The project team consisted of over 100 companies including Dialog Design, 3BP Solutions Inc., PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc., Hanscomb Ltd., Glidepath Group, and CATSA. "The Outbound Baggage Hall project was an important growth initiative for YLW that was implemented in 11 phases with multiple stages of renovation and new construction," says Ed Stephens, senior development manager, airport development at YLW. "The work involved relocation of all of the airport's primary tenants, renovating the existing concourse and airline check-in areas, constructing new office spaces, major electrical and mechanical system upgrades, complete migration of building controls to a new system, replacement of the airport's fire alarm system, and extensive renovation of the airport's only active IT communications room." A brand new three-storey 36,000- square-foot extension to the ATB was constructed for the baggage hall facility to house two new baggage systems capable of processing over 900 bags per hour and providing enhanced security screening for luggage. The construction process focused heavily on ensuring the continuity and integrity of airport operations during construction, working extensively on the baggage installation, testing, integration and go-live. The project required constant engagement between the design consultants, PCL Constructors, Glidepath Group, airline stakeholders, security providers, maintenance providers, CATSA, and the travelling public. "Significant planning and staged conversion of the old conveyors to the two new baggage handling systems enabled the outbound baggage process to remain operational throughout construction, with minimal impact to passengers. Tying in to an existing building was challenging due to many unknown conditions while maintaining airport operations," says Samaddar. Most construction activities were conducted within restricted areas in the airport. Therefore, security measures were put in place to allow controlled security access to "landside islands," thereby permitting contrac- tors to carry out work without continuous security escort. The entire concourse floor area was enclosed and renovated in numerous sections to allow for continuous access to airline check-in counters, food and retail concessions, rental car kiosks, and general circulation through the terminal building. When it came to the design of the three-storey building, creating a distinct sense of place was a key part of YLW's plan to adapt and become a recognizable brand. "Place-making is about giving a facility its own unique character, designing the entire experience with an identity all its own, one that reflects the regional style or context," says Erin Smith at Dialog. "Precast concrete panels in neutral shade colours that reflected the natural landscape were installed on the exterior walls to provide an esthetically pleasing and durable finish adjacent to the airside operations." Being municipally owned, YLW was required to meet aggressive provincial targets for CO2 reductions. "As part of the overall design of the project, an energy audit was completed for the existing facilities and an energy model was developed for the new additions. The result of these studies found that even with the footprint of the Air Terminal Building almost doubling, the overall CO2 emissions could be cut by 60 percent when compared to the emissions of the existing terminal," explains Stephens. When it came to the renovation and expansion of the electrical and mechanical systems, a detailed phasing and sequencing plan was of utmost importance to allow all key operations to seamlessly function. "Mechanical systems received a complete overhaul and two geothermal fields were installed to support an in-floor radiant heating and cooling system," says Matthew Horch from Dialog. "Paired with low-velocity displacement ventilation systems and high-efficiency equipment upgrades, the design was highly sustainable." The electrical distribution system was also completely updated, including emergency systems, by increasing the redundancy of the high voltage network and adding backup power generation for the entire terminal. This will allow the airport to maintain all flight operations during an emergency. "With the completion of the Outbound Baggage Hall project, the largest YLW expansion since original ATB construction, passengers are now greeted with a light, modern and airy feeling interior," says Stephens. "The renovation created more space for check- in and passenger flows and increased operational space for airlines and other key tenants. Passenger's luggage is now conveyed from check-in to their aircraft in a more efficient manner with enhanced security screening measures." A LOCATION 5533 Airport Way, Kelowna, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Kelowna International Airport OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE 3BP Solutions Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. ARCHITECT/ STRUCTURAL/MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT DIALOG TOTAL SIZE 36,000 square feet (Outbound Baggage Hall) TOTAL COST Approximately $38 Million

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