San José Airport Begins Work on Terminals A & B

Contextually inspired by San Jose and the Silicon Valley, Denver’s Fentress Architects’ design for Terminal B will represent the outer casing on a cable.

Photo courtesy of Fentress Architects

Mineta San José International Airport recently started construction on its new Terminal B and comprehensive upgrades to its Terminal A, marking major milestones in the airport’s Terminal Area Improvement Program Phase 1, scheduled to finish in mid-2010.

“Fentress Architects, along with Hensel Phelps, is committed to continuous communication and collaboration with the airport to balance operations and construction. Implemented effectively, the project is designed to have minimal interference on passenger traffic while preserving the integrity of overall airport security,” said Curtis W. Fentress, principal-in-charge of design from Fentress Architects.

Fentress Architects of Denver designed the $650-million, 1.25-million-sq-ft design-build project components as the architect to Hensel Phelps Construction Co. of Greeley, the design-build contractor.

The design-build program, part of Phase 1 of San José’s $1.3-billion TAIP, consists of replacement and renovation of the airport’s two terminals, airport roadway improvements and parking improvements, which include a new consolidated rental car facility.

The SJC design-build program has five main components:

• Major renovation of Terminal A, including security checkpoint expansion, new concession space, additional passenger hold room capacity and a new baggage system;
• Interim modification of Terminal C to clear space for the construction of Terminal B and Terminal C’s eventual demolition;
• New construction of Terminal B to provide ticketing, baggage and security for the new North Concourse nearing completion;
• New construction of 3,400-car Consolidated Rental Car Garage adjacent to Terminal B, which will include public parking;
• Roadway improvements and airport parking modifications, including two overpasses and realignment of the terminal roadway system to improve access and navigation.

Hensel Phelps and Fentress began collaborating on the design in early 2007 to achieve the aggressive schedule goals of the city of San José, which call for completion of Phase 1 in second-quarter 2010.

By using design-build, the San José projects will be completed at least a year earlier than if done design-bid-build. The result will deliver more operations efficiency to airlines, convenience and comfort to passengers and competitive facilities for SJC much earlier. In addition, SJC will reduce the overall program cost by avoiding time-related escalation in materials and construction costs.

Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and Fentress Architects have completed 50 projects together, valued at more than $3.4 billion, with half of those done design-build. Their portfolio includes the LEED-platinum California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento, the city of Oakland Administration Buildings and the Colorado Convention Center.

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