
Helena Regional Airport Terminal Expansion
Project at a Glance
Type – Airport terminal expansion
Services Provided – Structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering
Size – 20,000 sq. ft.
Cost – $12M
Completion Date – 2020
The Helena Regional Airport Terminal Expansion project features a cross-laminated timber roof structure on the 20,000 sq. ft. addition.
The Helena Regional Airport has experienced a jump in passenger travel over the last six years. In order to accommodate these travelers and keep up with the airlines as they moved to larger aircraft, the airport decided to expand its terminal.
The original concept for the project was to use a metal roof deck on top of the structural steel framing with an architectural wood soffit on the finished ceiling. After connecting with the airport, the design team proposed using CLT to replace the structural function of the metal deck which would also achieve the aesthetic function of the wood decking – an ideal convergence of function and form.
The change resulted in significant reductions to the construction schedule and an aesthetically pleasing finished product.