April 7, 2023

4 teams shortlisted for $900M ‘evolution' of airport concourse

Image from Port of Seattle [enlarge]

In this early concept design, the renovated S Concourse keeps its pedestrian bridge connection (partially shown on the right) to the new International Arrivals Facility.

The Port of Seattle has shortlisted four teams for its South Concourse “evolution” project, which has a maximum construction cost of $900 million, excluding sales tax.

This is the same concourse that international travelers pass through on their way to the new International Arrivals Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The teams in contention for the general contractor/construction manager contract are Hensel Phelps; Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture; PCL Construction Services; and Turner Walsh Partners. There also is an $8 million preconstruction contract up for grabs.

The port expects to pick a construction team in early August. It also is in negotiations with an undisclosed design firm for the project.

The existing three-story South Concourse, formerly called the South Satellite, is comprised of seven levels, including several levels of subbasement. It was built in 1973 and expanded in 1984.

The project will renovate the estimated 200,000-square-foot existing space to meet current building codes while creating a destination for travelers. The recently vacated Federal Inspection Services and Customs and Border Protection areas (now at the IAF) will be turned into duty-free shopping, restaurants and other retail options. The concourse level will be reconfigured for more efficient circulation and may include a new central restroom. Finally, the penthouse level will be expanded to handle club and premium lounge spaces. Early designs indicate four new gate pods will have double duty as lateral and seismic supports for the existing building.

The DJC in December reported that the project's tentative schedule shows design work finishing in spring 2025, followed by the start of early construction work in summer 2026. Construction is planned in two phases, with alternating halves of the concourse closed during each phase. The first phase is expected to start in early 2029 and the second in spring 2031. All work is expected to wrap up by the end of 2031.

The port commission in late October authorized $100 million to fund the project to the 90% design phase. That came on top of a previous allocation of $2.75 million to get the project started. Funding will come from revenue bonds, airport revenues and federal grants. The overall project budget is estimated at $1.5 billion.