Press

ORLANDO, FL. – With sustainability in mind, many design elements for the South Terminal C target LEED^®v4 certification including areas such as energy efficiency, indoor air quality and resiliency.

“It was critical from the start that however we expanded our footprint we did so in an environmentally-sound way,” said Davin Ruohomaki, Senior Director of Construction and Engineering for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). “Our construction efforts to the south have included targeted steps to align with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED®v4 certification requirements.”

If successful, GOAA’s South Terminal Complex, which includes the train station and South Terminal C (STC), will be one of the first LEED^®v4 airport campuses in the world. The STC is scheduled to open in summer 2022.

The complex was designed and is being built with eight target strategies to meet that certification:

Specific measures implemented in the design and construction phases of the complex include a targeted 35% reduction in potable water use through efficient fixtures, faucets, and equipment, a targeted 25% reduction in energy costs with focus on the thermal performance of the buildings envelop as well as optimal design in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system. The project also made the decision to utilize refrigerants that function with minimal to zero global warming potential and ozone depletion potential showing a forward-thinking commitment to long term objectives and a positive influence on change. The campus also includes the installation of a floating solar array in the retention pond near the entrance of parking garage C as a first step in the evaluation of using renewable energy within our development footprint.

An example of using sustainable materials in a resourceful and meaningful manner is the installation of Forever Trees within the terminal’s Palm Court. According to HNTB, the Terminal C Architect of Record, the artificial trees are actually constructed from live palms and live cypress. The barks are all sustainably created using preserved materials.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED v4 is designed to allow more flexibility with a performance-based approach that calls for measurable results throughout a building’s life cycle.

“As a major economic engine in Central Florida, it’s incredibly important for us to lead the way when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint,” said Kevin Thibault, GOAA’s CEO. “Our construction teams and designers dedicated their talents and resources to ensuring we do our best to open a building that not only meets customer demand but does so in a way we can all be proud of.”

Orlando International Airport’s original design criteria states the mission to be environmentally responsive as the water on the nearly 12,000 acre property forms the headwaters for South Florida.

About GOAA: The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority provides operational oversight of the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in Florida serving 40 million passengers annually. MCO is currently engaged in a multibillion dollar Capital Improvement Program to increase capacity and enhance customer convenience. The airport’s Capital Improvement Program includes the under-construction 15-gate South Terminal C. Orlando Executive Airport is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides general aviation needs to the Central Florida region.