Tucson International Airport Expansion

The Tucson Airport Authority retained Butier Engineering, Inc.—in association with another firm—after the airport expansion project had commenced. The purpose was to assist the owner and the architect of record in administering the project. Butier's services were implemented after the project was eight months into construction and six months behind schedule. The project plan started by the airport authority did not initially contemplate the use of project construction management services. However, the project had become impacted by a series of major owner related changes and unresolved change orders.

The project scope of work included demolition of approximately 15,000 SF of existing terminal and concourses; 115,000 SF renovation of existing terminals and concourses; and approximately 180,000 SF of new terminals, concourses, and appurtenant structures and support facilities. The existing airport and airline carriers remained operational while the project was constructed in a three-phase delivery system. The project required two planned moves of all carriers serving the airport and terminal tenants to be synchronized with the phasing.

Virtually all aspects of the airport operation were affected by the construction program. These included: airport peaks related to passenger travel, ground handling of carriers at temporary gates, rerouted baggage handling, revised terminal operations, critical airport security issues, airport technical services coordination for interim conditions, customs and immigration restraints, direct passenger services, and airport passenger access issues. All of the above interferences were coordinated by the construction manager and airport staff.

Butier introduced a project management team and retroactively introduced CPM scheduling, cost controls, negotiated change orders, and introduced other construction management systems which effectively coordinated the activities of the architect, seven sub-consultants, airport staff, airline carriers, general contractor, and subcontractors.

The contractor met its Phase II and Phase III completion dates and—with exception of excusable delays under the contract—met its authorized extended schedule completion dates.