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Cover Story - June 2009

Top Projects Completed

Top 1: Indianapolis International Airport Upgrade

Cost: $1.1 Billion

The upgrade of Indianapolis International Airport is reportedly the largest project in the city’s history.

Indianapolis International Airport Upgrade

The 1.2-million-sq-ft Midfield Terminal is the project’s centerpiece. Highlights include two 1,300-ft concourses, 40 gates, 96 counter positions and 200-ft-diameter Civic Plaza. About 11,000 tons of steel frame the space.

Two of the gates are for international flights, with the ability to accommodate Airbus A380 jumbo jets.

Along with the terminal, a 5,900-space parking garage was built. The five-level center also holds 1,200 spaces for rental cars and includes a Ground Transportation Center with its own commercial vehicle curb for hotel shuttles, buses and limousines.

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An energy plant was also built to heat and cool the terminal and a future hotel. The facility is connected to the terminal via a 5,800-ft utility corridor under the north runway and two taxiways.

Has Big Skylight One of the terminal’s signature features is a 200-ft-wide circular skylight in the roof some 60 ft above a public plaza. The element has 884 massive panes resting atop a steel structure.

Steel was used because nothing else would adequately support the weight of the glass. Each pane is 9 ft long, 5 ft wide and weighs 700 to 800 lbs.

Laminated and insulated glass was chosen for the skylight structure. Each pane includes multiple sheets of glass-a layer, an insulating space, a double glass layer and polyvinyl butyral strengthening sheet in between. The panels offer temperature and noise insulation and safety features that will prevent shards of glass from falling should any panels break.

 

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