Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

Consistently ranked among the nation’s top airports, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is recognized for delivering exceptional passenger experience and operational excellence. These accolades reflect the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s (MAC) commitment to investing in the people, facilities, and infrastructure that support millions of travelers each year.

As part of that commitment, the MAC is undertaking a transformational replacement and expansion of the Energy Management Center (EMC) at MSP Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1). As a cornerstone of the airport's long-term sustainability and resilience strategy, the project will modernize critical infrastructure that supports terminal operations, passenger services, and campus-wide utility systems.

Originally constructed in 1960 and expanded over multiple phases, the existing T1 EMC is nearing the end of its service life. This modernization project will ensure reliable, energy-efficient heating and cooling for the entire Terminal 1 campus—including terminal buildings, support facilities, and parking structures—while advancing MAC’s ambitious sustainability goals.

The project will include a hybrid heating and cooling solution that integrates high-efficiency and low-carbon technologies. CMTA is delivering comprehensive design services for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology systems, all while integrating these systems with airport-wide automation and metering. To ensure alignment with the airport’s sustainability initiatives, our team is conducting energy modeling, life-cycle cost analyses, and making provisions for full system electrification in support of regional utility decarbonization targets.

The modernization incorporates advanced technology infrastructure for resilient and reliable operations. Key elements include structured cabling infrastructure, communications rooms, fiber backbone systems, public address systems, audiovisual technologies, security systems, distributed antenna system (DAS) coordination, and supporting pathways required to connect operational technology throughout the facility. Together, these interconnected systems form the communications backbone of Terminal 1, supporting secure, scalable integration between the new Energy Management Center and facility-wide operational systems. This approach creates a robust platform capable of driving automation, metering, monitoring, and security—essential for ensuring seamless airport operations.

Beyond immediate functional upgrades, the EMC replacement project represents a strategic step toward MAC’s broader environmental goals. The initiative supports MAC’s targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and water use per passenger by 15% by 2030, ultimately working toward achieving net-zero operations by 2050. By combining future-ready technology systems with sustainable infrastructure strategies, the project will ensure decades of efficient operation for Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport as a premier national transportation hub.