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Owner: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Boarding Area B Design-Build: Austin Commercial & Webcor Builders Joint Venture / HKS / Woods Bagot / ED2 / KYA

Terminal  1 Center Design-Build: Hensel Phelps / Gensler / Kuth Ranieri

Facilitators: Rob Reaugh & Sue Dyer

Award: IPI Diamond Level

Budget: $1.9B

Still in process (close-out in July 2024).

Project Description

San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has revolutionized the guest experience with 25 gates, including three international swing gates, a state-of-the-art ticketing lobby and checkpoint, spacious waiting areas filled with natural light, a selection of favorite Bay Area restaurants and shops, and dozens of custom works of art. The new terminal also connects to the A Gates in the International Terminal for easy transfers. It includes a new mezzanine with connections to the AirTrain and the Central Parking Garage.

The IPI Diamond Level, Award Winning project, has achieved many firsts for the Airport and the Industry, including the first Airport in the world to achieve Fitwel certification and the first Airport in the US to install an Independent Carrier System (ICS) baggage system. All of this is delivered with an environmentally friendly LEED Platinum Certification and has earned a Fitwel “Best in Building Health” award for achieving the highest rating for health and wellness. The project also features a rooftop PV system of 1.5 MW, which will supply 19% of the total energy the terminal uses, and dynamic glazing on the SW and SE airside to reduce glare and heat gain. As the first airport terminal in the world named for an LGBTQ+ leader, Harvey Milk Terminal 1 honors the life and legacy of the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, inviting travelers from around the world to learn more about the man and his contribution to San Francisco. An exhibit in the front lobby features photos and campaign materials, giving travelers a glimpse into Milk’s life, including his activism and ascendance as a political leader in San Francisco, as well as his assassination and a legacy fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion that lives on today.

The project owner, San Francisco International Airport, worked closely with the two design-build teams that collaborated in a multi-team big room setting and then on the multi-contractor project site. The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Program was supported by a “One Team Approach.” The program team members included:

  • Boarding Area B Design-builder: Austin Commercial & Webcor Builders Joint Venture / HKS / Woods Bagot / ED2 / KYA
  • Terminal 1 Center Design-builder: Hensel Phelps / Gensler / Kuth Ranieri

This $1.9B project applied an incredibly rigorous Structured Collaborative Partnering process involving more than 90 partnering sessions to align the Executive, Core, Concessionaires, and Airport Stakeholders, including system maintainers and end-users. The team saved more than $38M in schedule and budget through collaboration and negotiated more than $106M in changes of scope. This team also celebrated together, holding regular inter-team events and milestone celebrations, such as topping out ceremonies, community days, and an open-air grand opening event for the team.

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