The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced that Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has become the first airport terminal in the world to earn Platinum certification using the latest standards from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
The LEED v4 raises the bar for the design, construction, and high-performance structures. SFO earned this certification for Boarding Area B in Harvey Milk Terminal 1. This includes the 25-gate concourse, concession space, and connector to the U.S. Customs Federal Inspection Area.
![SFO design](/sites/default/files/inline-images/17586_010_electronic.jpg)
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HARVEY MILK TERMINAL PROJECT
- A tote-based Independent Carrier System (ICS) to manage checked baggage, the first in the U.S., which uses 50% less energy and is easier to operate and maintain than previous systems
- Self-energizing (regenerative) elevators recycle energy, rather than wasting it as heat
- Go-Slow escalators and moving walkways that reduce speed when not in use to save energy
- Radiant heating and cooling to complement displacement ventilation to provide energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and enhanced passenger comfort
- Dynamic glazed windows that change with the sun’s location, to reduce glare and improve comfort
- Large windows harnessing daylight to reduce the need for electric lighting
- Controllable, dimmable, long-life light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures throughout the facility
- Low-flow, hands-free bathroom fixtures and faucets save water in our drought-prone state
- Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, providing renewable power for the facility
- Highly efficient outdoor air filtration system to remove pollutants and odor to provide healthier indoor environments with minimal efficiency impacts
- Building materials and furnishings with low-volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions
- Selection of products, systems and materials with the least environmental or planetary impact based upon Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDS)
- Integrated Building Management System measures energy and water use and adjusts equipment to be more efficient
- Seamless access to all facilities, including public transit, via the AirTrain electric people mover, which eliminated over 600,000 miles of bus trips annually
- Recycling and diversion of approximately 95% of construction waste from landfill
![SFO features](/sites/default/files/inline-images/17586_004_electronic.jpg)
“We are truly proud to be the first airport in the world to earn LEED v4 Platinum certification,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero in the release. “This achievement continues a tradition of leadership in sustainable facilities that includes the first LEED Gold airport terminal in the United States, and the world’s first zero net energy facility at an airport. My thanks go out to the entire project team for continuing to push the envelope for what airports can accomplish to support our environmental goals.”
PROJECT TEAM FOCUSED ON COLLABORATION
A collaboration between HKS, Arup, Woods Bagot, ED2 International, Austin Commercial, Webcor, and Kendall Young Associates, the design takes advantage of every innovation available, beginning with repurposing the existing Boarding Area B to achieve the new 225,000-sf building.
Materials and systems were selected based on having the least environmental impact, such as carbon-sequestering concrete and nontoxic carpet tiles and finishes.
Other features include a sophisticated baggage carousel and photovoltaic panels on the roof, which generate the energy required for operations.
The project management team includes:
- BAB Design-builder: Austin Commercial & Webcor Builders Joint Venture with HKS / Woods Bagot / ED2 International / Kendall Young Associates
- BAB Sustainability Coordinator: Arup
- BAB Construction Manager: WSP / AGS
Related Stories
Building Materials | Apr 22, 2024
Tacoma, Wash., investigating policy to reuse and recycle building materials
Tacoma, Wash., recently initiated a study to find ways to increase building material reuse through deconstruction and salvage. The city council unanimously voted to direct the city manager to investigate deconstruction options and estimate costs.
Airports | Apr 18, 2024
The next destination: Passive design airports
Today, we can design airports that are climate resilient, durable, long-lasting, and healthy for occupants—we can design airports using Passive House standards.
Urban Planning | Apr 12, 2024
New York City’s safest year for pedestrians due to concerted effort of street redesign, speed restrictions
In 2023, New York City recorded its safest year for pedestrians since record-keeping began in 1910. In a city of 8.5 million people, 101 deaths were due to vehicles striking pedestrians, less than one-third the number of the early 1990s. New York City ramped up its efforts to make walking and biking safer in 2014 when the city reduced its speed limit to 25 miles per hour.
Industrial Facilities | Apr 9, 2024
Confessions of a cold storage architect
Designing energy-efficient cold storage facilities that keep food safe and look beautiful takes special knowledge.
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2024
First federal blueprint to decarbonize U.S. buildings sector released
The Biden Administration recently released “Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector,” a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.
Green | Apr 8, 2024
LEED v5 released for public comment
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period for the first draft of LEED v5. The new version of the LEED green building rating system will drive deep decarbonization, quality of life improvements, and ecological conservation and restoration, USGBC says.
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2024
Boston’s plans to hold back rising seawater stall amid real estate slowdown
Boston has placed significant aspects of its plan to protect the city from rising sea levels on the actions of private developers. Amid a post-Covid commercial development slump, though, efforts to build protective infrastructure have stalled.
Standards | Apr 1, 2024
New technical bulletin covers window opening control devices
A new technical bulletin clarifies the definition of a window opening control device (WOCD) to promote greater understanding of the role of WOCDs and provide an understanding of a WOCD’s function.
Sustainability | Mar 21, 2024
World’s first TRUE-certified building project completed in California
GENESIS Marina, an expansive laboratory and office campus in Brisbane, Calif., is the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE)-certified construction endeavor. The certification recognizes projects that achieve outstanding levels of resource efficiency through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
Office Buildings | Mar 21, 2024
Corporate carbon reduction pledges will have big impact on office market
Corporate carbon reduction commitments will have a significant impact on office leasing over the next few years. Businesses that have pledged to reduce their organization’s impact on climate change must ensure their next lease allows them to show material progress on their goals, according to a report by JLL.