New Terminal & Airside / Landside Facilities, Mobile International Airport

Arora Engineers (Arora) provided Special Systems, Fire Alarm, and Fire Protection engineering services for the Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) Mobile International Airport New Terminal and Airside/Landside Facilities project. This extensive project involved designing and constructing a new terminal with an initial five gates, expandable to 12, a new aircraft ramp area, a state-of-the-art parking garage with 1,250 spaces, a new Rental Car and Central Utility Plant (CUP) facility, and remote operations center.

The project stemmed from a comprehensive 20-year Master Plan initiated in response to a 2018 Feasibility Study, which underscored the need to relocate commercial air passenger services to reclaim lost traffic. Upon its scheduled opening in 2025, the new terminal will shift commercial passenger traffic from Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile to Mobile International Airport, conveniently located near Downtown Mobile and Baldwin County. This strategic relocation is designed to boost Mobile’s competitiveness with other regional airports, offering enhanced accessibility through proximity to downtown, easy connections for Baldwin County customers, and convenient access to Interstate 10.

This development has lowered airfares, increased the availability of direct flights, stimulated tourism, and created significant economic growth for the region. The terminal, built to international standards, has improved passenger experience through its modern design, enhanced convenience features, and integrated with surrounding infrastructure. The inclusion of a Centralized Utility Plant further underscores the project’s commitment to operational efficiency and sustainability, supporting the terminal’s long-term scalability and functionality.

Arora provided comprehensive Construction Administration (CA) services to support the procurement and early-stage construction of systems for the Terminal, Central Utility Plant (CUP) and Parking Garage. Services included site visits, RFI responses, submittal reviews, and addendums.

SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDED

• Design of Low Voltage Systems
• Structured Cabling
• Security (Access Control, CCTV)
• Telecom
• Wi-Fi
• Data Closets
• Tolling
• Electronic Signage for Parking and Flight Kiosks
• Integrated Smart Parking Guidance System
• Seamless Functionality of Communication Systems within the Terminal and Parking Garage
• Fire/Life Safety Design and Coordination
• Wet and Dry Sprinkler Systems
• Standpipe Systems
• Deluge Sprinkler
• Pre-action Sprinkler
• Gaseous Suppression Systems for High-value Assets

“Arora’s designs required careful coordination and consideration of the aesthetic, operational and constructability objectives of the project stakeholders. Although the facility is divided into multiple buildings the systems were integrated to ensure consistent design concepts and operational visibility throughout the campus.”

— Chase Miller, PE, Vice President, Practice Lead | Fire/Life Safety

Photos: Build.FM / HOK / Mobile International Airport