PHL Terminal F Hub Expansion and Baggage Claim

Arora Engineers, Inc. provided design for the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, fire detection, electrical, special systems, and security engineering services for an expansion of Terminal F at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Improvements involved approximately 88,400 square feet of new floor space, a new baggage claim building, additions and modifications to the existing building, new architectural finishes, and systems upgrades. Terminal F has three concourses connected by a central hub, 38 gate positions, a ticketing building, a baggage claim, and a skybridge leading to the parking structure.

SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDED:

• Electrical: Power distribution; lighting design and controls; power ductbank design; motor control panel; substation modification and analysis; concession space low voltage power.
• Mechanical: Study of future cooling and heating capacity; satellite thermal plant expansion systems, including pumps and pipelines; domestic water piping; sanitary and stormwater design; gas piping modifications required.
• Fire/Life Safety: code review; fire alarm and detection system; clean agent suppression (Fm 200 or other); fire sprinkler systems (wet, dry, pre-action); hydrant and hose reel systems; fire egress interfaces.
• Special Systems/Security: Multi-use flight information displays; visual paging advertising/wayfinding; network architecture (Mac minis, cat 6 Cabling, upgrade G4 Platform); horizontal structured cabling design; access control and intrusion detection; access control doors; CCTV; digital video recording; TACS; ambient noise sensing and automatic compensation; amplification of Live Speech announcements originating at microphone stations; UCDS; and MDF/IDF analysis and design.

Arora also provided construction administration support and inter-agency coordination. With this expansion, the airport hopes to create a better passenger experience and generate additional concession sales by expanding available space and improving retail options.