INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS
December 2025
Effective construction phasing How to minimize disruptive renovation impacts on airport operations, stakeholders and passengers As airport passenger and cargo traffic continues to increase, airports are examining how to modernize terminals in a busy environment to minimize disruption. Often times, this modernization is being done within a tight timeframe and constrained work area. That is why an experienced project manager can help facilitate a smooth, on schedule and safe implementation. The key is to ensure the phasing and schedule incorporate four principles of success: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Alignment Inclusion Resolution Communication
Following is how each principle plays a role in minimizing disruption and conflict during construction. 1.
Alignment For the project to succeed, the project and construction managers, designer, contractor and are driven by the owner’s objective and expectations. Thus, the first order of business in delivering a successful terminal renovation is clearly communicating what success means, as defined by the owner, early in the project’s life cycle. After which, each entity commits all its resources and expertise to achieve the collective goal. This exercise in consensus-building accomplishes three objectives: •
Creates a singularly focused, unified project team
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Gives the project momentum as it leaves the starting blocks
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Demonstrates the project manager’s ability to lead and communicate effectively with diverse groups
2. Inclusion When developing the construction phasing plan and schedule, effective project managers meet and collaborate with all stakeholders to: •
Identify each group’s specific needs and concerns
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Resolve conflicts before construction begins
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Create a phasing plan and schedule that clears the path to on-time completion
However, despite their best efforts, seasoned project managers know there is no such thing as a conflict-free implementation. The project manager considers the building or facility being renovated, the various mechanical and IT systems it contains and how to bring all of them into the phasing plan, so the trades can work as efficiently as possible. Then there is the added complexity of phasing those spaces that need to be completed and handed over earlier than other parts of the facility. The good news is effective program managers have the tools and experience to resolve the unexpected. 3. Resolution First, project managers can avoid a significant amount of risk by developing the schedule and the phasing plan hand-in-hand, so the contractor can actually build the work shown. Second, good project managers will make contingency and flexibility-building part of initial discussions with contractors. This will be a part of risk management to identify and mitigate schedule risks at the start and minimize changes later in the project. Third, an effective, efficient project manager can avoid potential schedule disruptions by finding time where there appears to be none. This skill requires understanding which activities can
Richard (Rich) Leary Senior Program Manager HNTB Corporation ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rich Leary is a senior program manager with extensive and diversified experience in engineering management, product design and modification, standards creation and review, manufacturing and purchasing support and customer support. Trusted by his clients for his knowledge, expertise and understanding of complex airport renovations, Rich’s experience in project and engineering management includes workforce and project planning, scheduling and document creation and system testing and protocols, including integrated system acceptance testing for Transportation Security Administration acceptance. Contact him at (425) 456-8505 or rileary@hntb.com CONNECT with Rich on LinkedIn
be shuffled and which cannot. Concurrent, isolated activities are moveable. Interdependent activities are not. Efficient project managers will highlight the activities with dependencies along the critical path in the schedule to ensure those tasks remain constrained, and they may shuffle the independent activities to bank float or compensate for short delays. But what happens when a major, unexpected change in airport or airline operations occurs during construction? Deep into renovations at Los Angeles’ Tom Bradley International Terminal Renovation Project, the project team was informed of flight schedule changes that would affect the sequence of work planned for the replacement of the baggage handling system and bag room upgrades. Instead of surrendering to a new, later completion date, the project team used storyboarding to find a workaround. During a brainstorming session, the designer, contractor and PM/CM used colored markers and printouts of the renovation drawings to sketch alternative sequencing scenarios. The visual aids and revised schedules helped us determine the best way to resequence the renovation without pushing out the overall completion date. 4. Communication Effective project managers are skilled communicators who know how to disseminate the right information to the right audiences at the right time through the most appropriate channels. In my experience, one of the most effective channels is face-to-face communication. It can be a valuable relationship-building tool, generating trust, cooperation and goodwill among important
stakeholder groups when unexpected changes result in unavoidable schedule or sequencing conflicts. Successful project managers also know how to communicate effectively with the traveling public through wayfinding and signage campaigns. The importance of displaying clear directions and instructions for navigating an airport terminal under renovation cannot be overstated. The following best practices ensure wayfinding and signage serve as safety devices as well as navigational aids for passengers, employees and construction crews alike: •
Large, branded graphics are instantly and easily distinguishable from other airport signs and graphics
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Brief, clearly worded signage ensures quick, easy comprehension
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Frequent signage and graphics serve as turn-by-turn guides to terminal destinations
A smooth implementation is achievable Each terminal renovation project presents its own set of constraints. The good news is the solid underpinnings of alignment, inclusion, resolution and communication allow the project manager to successfully mitigate the impacts of conflicts – both anticipated and unexpected – to ensure a smooth implementation and on-time deliverywell as creating a more pleasant, uniform passenger experience. n
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