Consulting Engineering
Washington Dulles International Airport’s new Tier-2 Concourse East is an ambitious expansion aimed at enhancing passenger experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability. Designed to replace outdated gates at the eastern end of Concourse A, the 410,000 ft² facility will feature 14 modernized gates with direct access to the Aerotrain system, significantly improving connectivity and convenience for travelers navigating the airport. Passengers will enjoy a host of new amenities, including shops, restaurants, spacious seating areas, ADA-compliant restrooms, and airline lounges, while airport staff will benefit from larger operational areas for servicing aircraft, handling baggage, and other support functions.
CMTA played a pivotal role in engineering the HVAC and plumbing systems for the project, producing bridging documents from the 30% construction phase. With an aggressive schedule, the team ensured that the project could be executed without disrupting existing airport operations.
To meet modern demands for comfort, energy efficiency, and sustainability, CMTA implemented an innovative displacement ventilation system. This approach delivers conditioned air directly at the occupant level through low-velocity, non-turbulent airflow. The system enhances passenger comfort by maintaining uniform temperature gradients and improving indoor air quality, avoiding traditional overhead ductwork while preserving the terminal’s open, architecturally expansive design. Custom teardrop diffusers, seamlessly integrated into the columns of the concourse through a partnership with Price Diffusers, were a critical element of the design, blending aesthetics with functionality. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling conducted during the design phase confirmed the system’s effectiveness, ensuring optimum performance and comfort.
Displacement ventilation not only enhances the passenger environment but also provides opportunities for energy efficiency. A higher zone air distribution ventilation effectiveness (Ez) value of 1.2 reduces the amount of outdoor air requiring conditioning by over 30% compared to a traditional mixed air system. Additionally, the system eliminates the need for costly and complex heat recovery or reheat systems by leveraging return air that naturally rises to the terminal ceiling for “free” reheating. A secondary energy recovery wheel further supports regulated reheating, enabling the project to avoid expensive heat exchangers and reducing construction costs by approximately $1.17 million. Annual energy savings of over $204,500 underscore the economic efficiency of this approach. These results exceeded the project’s energy performance goals, aligning with the requirements for LEED Silver certification.
Collaboration was key to this project’s success. CMTA partnered with Pro-Air, Turner Construction, and PGAL to integrate systems seamlessly while adhering to the aggressive schedule. The project also addressed operational efficiency by optimizing equipment placement—such as identifying an improved location for the heating hot water plant—to reduce pump sizes and centralize equipment, leading to lower construction costs and better system performance.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the new concourse will redefine the passenger experience at Washington Dulles International Airport. Blending an enhanced passenger experience with innovative energy and operational efficiencies, this project represents a significant milestone in both aviation and sustainable design, positioning the airport as a leader in cutting-edge, passenger-centered development.
