RS&H-designed Detroit Airport Runway Project Awarded for Sustainability

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) sets a high benchmark for recognizing sustainable projects across the country, so much so that only 19 projects have earned an ISI award.

Now, you can add the Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s Runway and Associated Taxiways Reconstruction project to the list of winners. The RS&H-designed project earned ISI’s Silver award 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 ISI designation.

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. The $85 million project was completed in just seven months.

“Everything about the project was big,” said RS&H Detroit Aviation Leader Pat Frame. “There were 100 miles of wire, 450,000 square yards of concrete and 220,000 tons of asphalt – plus 3 miles of temporary fencing.

“Anything that could be reused is getting reused.”

RS&H partnered with C&S Companies to create a resilient design and manage 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 Airport Authority’s sustainability program.

The ISI notes RS&H and C&S 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 will decrease, as will maintenance costs.

“It’s an honor to earn ISI’s Envision Silver Award,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton. “Our Airport Authority departments worked together with RS&H and C&S to achieve this goal. Their work will guarantee that the Detroit Metro Airport can continue providing world-class service to our customers and remain an important contributor to our region’s economy.”