Paslay Group provided Executive Program Management services to deliver the $1.5 billion Build KCI program in February 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 15, 2023 – The Kansas City Industrial Council has recognized Kansas City International Airport with its inaugural Platinum Level Sustainability Award for its commitment to using environmentally sensitive design, materials, lighting, equipment, and smart building controls throughout the Build KCI terminal development program.

Paslay Group provided Executive Program Management services to the Kansas City Aviation Department, acting as the owner’s representative and providing leadership to help deliver the $1.5 billion, award-winning terminal program. The new single terminal opened Feb. 28.

An all-glass passenger boarding bridge at the new MCI Airport.
One of Kansas City International Airport’s new all-glass passenger boarding bridges, February 2023.

Terry Cassidy, Paslay Group principal and Build KCI Executive Program Manager, said the airport has set the bar for terminal development programs of the future.

“From Day One, there was tremendous attention to raising the bar on what airports around the world should strive for when it comes to sustainability,” he said “Everything was looked out through a green lens – from the use of clean and renewable energy, the type of glass installed, the electric parking shuttles, Electrical Ground Support Equipment charging stations, public parking charging stations, a solar array on the parking structure, and more. It was a privilege to bring this vision to life.”

The Build KCI team also included developer Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate, Design-Build consortium Clarke | Weitz | Clarkson, Skidmore Ownings & Merrill (SOM) architects, and Vantage Airport Group, the airport concessionaire.

The Industrial Council announced the award in October, marking the first time it had awarded a Platinum sustainability honor. MCI previously qualified for a U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification. The Industrial Council honored 11 total businesses and said that the scale and impact of the Build KCI airport development program merited the Platinum honor. [RP1] 

MCI achieved an 18 percent energy cost savings compared to the industry baseline by using LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, and smart building controls, the award citation said.

The airport diverted more than 85 percent of all construction waste from the landfills by pulverizing the old terminal’s waste and reusing it in construction of the new terminal. The executive team also chose a light grey concrete over the traditional dark asphalt for all parking and road surfaces to minimize the heat island effect, the Council said.

Paul Blue, president of PG Executive Program Management, said: “The Build KCI program is a model for airports planning capital programs with carbon neutral goals at the core. Paslay Group works with some of the most innovative airports across the country, and the Kansas City Aviation Department has established itself as a leader in aviation environmental sustainability with this new terminal. We applaud the entire team for producing a facility that is as kind to the environment as it is visually stunning.”

The Build KCI project began in 2018 and was completed in early 2023 with Paslay Group serving as the project’s Executive Program Management team. The $1.5B project included a new security checkpoint and central terminal with 40 gates and capacity for an additional 10 gates, new arrivals/departures curbs and roadways, a new central utility plant, a 6,200-space parking garage, and the largest installation of all-glass passenger boarding bridges in the U.S.

Through PG’s Executive Program Management model, PG provided Kansas City a team of seasoned airport development experts to augment the Aviation Department’s executive team and expand the city’s capacity to plan, implement and execute the program. Paslay Group was able to assist the owners in shaving four months from the construction timeline and more than $400 million from the initial budget.

About Paslay Group

Paslay Group is the premiere, full-service airport consultancy providing Executive Program Management, Advisory and Development services for a wide array of airports implementing capital development programs. Founded in 2006 by former airport executives, PG has successfully assisted owners in delivering airport projects valued at $24.2 billion and is currently managing an additional $10.6 billion in investments. Visit paslaygroup.com or contact us at info@paslaygroup.com to learn more.

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