Detroit Airport Runway – Envision Silver Certification

The RS&H-designed Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s Runway and Associated Taxiways Reconstruction project earned Envision ‘Silver’ certification after being completed ahead of time, under budget, and diverting 99 percent of recyclable material from landfills. The Detroit airport is only the second in the country to receive Envision certification through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Achieving the Envision ‘Silver’ Certification
Envision is a rating system for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil infrastructure that provides guidance on sustainable best practices. The project included reconstructing a 10,000-foot-long runway and associated taxiway system, providing a safe connection for aircraft from the runway to the passenger terminals. In total, the project encompasses 6.5 miles of airfield pavement, 100 miles of wire, 450,000 square yards of concrete, 220,000 tons of asphalt, and 3 miles of temporary fencing.

RS&H created a resilient design and managed construction with a focus on sustainability. From recycling materials to using low-energy lighting and prudent stormwater management, the runway reconstruction project is an important element of the authority’s sustainability program.

RS&H went above and beyond compliance with environmental regulations during construction by reducing existing impervious surfaces at the site. By minimizing the amount of pavement, the resulting stormwater runoff and the associated water quality impacts were decreased, along with maintenance costs. The $85 million project was completed in just seven months.