Jan 2010 Vol. 13 No. 1

Renovation at SFO: Designed and built for 21st century travelers

The original terminal at SFO, opened in 1954, is undergoing renovations that will make it cutting edge in the 21st century.

You know what I’m talking about. You’re almost jogging through what feels like a mile of terminal between gates, hauling your carry-on, the one with a bum wheel. You’d like to call home, but there’s no place to charge your dead phone, and at the gate, you can’t even see whether the plane’s there. You’re thinking (among other less printable things), "Geez, my eight-year-old kid could design a better airport."

This scenario won’t happen in San Francisco International Airport’s renovated domestic terminal, which represents the latest and greatest in twenty-first century "design-build" solutions.

Harry Luks, Local 217, "The best thing about this project? It’s a good company and a good group of guys to work with." Here, Luks is working with Baltazar Gomez, from the Masons Union, Local 300.

"'Design-build’ is gaining a lot of traction as a building method," explains Victor Perry, the Project Director for Turner Construction, which is the contractor for the $330 million project.

What "design-build" involves, in contrast to the old "design-bid-build" way of working, is a working relationship between the stakeholders with the contractor at the center of the process from design through construction, rather than being chosen from a bidding process once the design is complete.

"Turner Construction gathered all the stakeholders," explains Perry, "the airport folks, the shop owners, representatives from some of the airlines, to 'vision’ what people want and need."

Union brothers renovate the domestic terminal that will host travelers of the 21st century, while planes queue up for departure.

Millwright Mark Wallace (left), Local 102, says, "We’re putting together the baggage carousel-the one where the luggage comes from check-in, and then goes out to the plane." Millwright Sam Johnson (right), Local 102, has been on the project since September.

In the case of the 600,000-square-foot renovation of SFO’s international terminal, originally built in 1954, the design-build solution has put travelers’ needs front and center. The "recomposure" area, for example—where you relax after the hassle of getting your ticket and passing through security—will offer views of the gates. At electrified tables, travelers can check email or power up their phones.

Millwright Bud Anderson, Local 102, is the lead foreman for Siemens. "Right now, the particular challenges are getting access to the work-scheduling with all the other contractors. But we’re having fun and keeping ourselves busy."

"More than 50 percent of new projects coming up now—public and private—are design-build," says Perry. "This type of work is good for all of us."

As Perry says, this project is good for carpenters—and a lot of other trades as well. At the peak of construction, which will happen in April and May of this year, about 450–550 craftspeople will be working on site here.

The renovation, which is expanding the terminal from 10 to 14 gates, includes a full seismic retrofit, and replacement of all electrical and plumbing, heating and A/C.

And it’s putting a lot of Bay Area people to work. "Forty-eight percent of the contractors are San Francisco-based," says Perry. "It was the mayor’s vision to use this as a stimulus project, and get as many folks working as possible."

In San Mateo County, where the airport is located, it’s great news for the Foster City-based Local 217. In spite of having 220 people on the local’s out-of-work list, "it’s not as many as elsewhere in the Bay Area and the valley," says Local 217 Field Representative Ed Evans.



Joaquin Murrieta, Local 405, is glad to be working. "God has been good," he says, "I’m thankful."

Jeff Collins, Local 25, is PCI’s foreman. "Coordinating is a big part of this project," he says. "It’s really good working with Turner, and the project is coming out great."

In keeping with the goal of generating work, the subcontractor list is long, with more than 20 percent of them from the Human Resources Commission list of small, minority- or women-owned businesses. A partial list of subs includes Boyett Construction, Raymond Interiors and Performance Contracting Inc., California Drywall, Rubicon General Contractors, Brand Scaffold, Flatiron West, ICC Inc., as well as Foundation Constructors, which provided piledrivers for the project, and Siemens Energy, which employs many of the millwrights on the project.

Mike Young, Local 22, is working for California Drywall, and has four months in at the airport project.

Ernie Gomes, Local 102, started 12 years ago as a millwright. "I’m looking forward to another year on this project."

I’m happy to be working," says Fernando Rodriguez, Local 68.

Out on the roof of the new terminal, the view is unusual—an unobstructed panorama of tarmac and hangers backed by Bay water the color of tin. Every few minutes an increasing roar announces pedal-to-the-metal horsepower capable of lifting a jet, and off goes another one. Although a visitor is charmed (again and again), teams of Bay Area craftspeople carry on without a glance, hanging DensGlass, the waterproof exterior sheathing, and framing in the last sections of what will be the roof of the new building. Glaziers work along what Perry calls "the potato chip," a ceiling with a giant clerestory along the sides, placing large panels of glass.

"One of the challenges of the project," says PCI foreman Jeff Collins, as he checks on his team, "is coordinating with the different subcontractors." PCI and Boyett crews are working almost tool belt to tool belt on the roof. "It requires good coordination. It’s really good working with Turner, and the project is coming out great."

Come January 2011, when the terminal opens its renovated gates, there may be a lot of travelers grateful for the project coordination, design forethought and outstanding craftsmanship going into the project. Then again, maybe they’ll be able to focus on an upcoming adventure or getting safely home—and not give the airport a second thought. Perhaps that’s the best compliment of all.

Jose Estrada, Local 751, is working with Boyett Construction.

Marcos Alvarez, Local 9144, hanging DensGlass.

Carlos Avalos, Local 68, has six months on this project, working with Boyett Construction.

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