Vertical Circulation Cores, Landside Elevator Improvements, Orlando International Airport

Owner: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Orlando
Location: Orlando International Airport, Orlando
Cost: $20 million
Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Orlando
Architect: KBJ Architects, Orlando

On this project, Hensel Phelps Construction Co. was responsible for making vertical circulation improvements at the terminal end of four pedestrian tunnels connecting the garages to the landside terminal.

The objective was to enhance the terminal and increase the capacity of the North Terminal Complex so it could sufficiently handle passenger requirements until the first phase of the South Terminal Complex was completed.

The vertical circulation improvements were accomplished by replacing the two existing hydraulic elevators with three traction elevators in each tunnel at the terminal end. This involved removing the existing roof above the elevator shaft and four floors of 1-ft.-thick, cast-in-place concrete elevator shaft walls and the elevators through an occupied building.

The existing elevator pits were removed and new pits installed at a lower elevation.

Public access was maintained at all times to all sides of the project and existing escalators.

This construction extended into the rental car lobbies on level one, which were required to remain open and operational. The enlarging of the elevator shafts affected all levels of the terminal.

Portions of the structural bays adjacent to the elevator shafts needed to be demolished so that the new elevator shaft width could be accommodated and the escalators relocated.

The demolition work required on level two impacted the baggage-claim operation, while the work on level three impacted curbside operations.

Additionally, the fabric canopies, skylights and roof above level three were modified to accommodate the new elevator shaft, and new elevator penthouses were added.

The project scope also included providing and installing an independent elevator, escalator and moving-walk monitoring system for all 89 elevators, 68 escalators and 16 moving sidewalks in the North Terminal Complex. This system was custom designed to meet the requirements of the project owner, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.