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Effective airport project delivery, leadership and culture
Journal of Airport Management,
13
(1),
6-16
(2018)
Abstract
Deteriorating infrastructure at many US airports has prompted the need for major redevelopment projects across the country and the world. Industry leaders believe that failing to modernise our inventory of airports threatens to impede customer service and hinder economic growth. To meet the growing demand for rebuilding projects, the airport design/construction industry must find ways to be more efficient while cutting costs and retaining high quality. It also means that the way we assemble and lead project teams must also evolve. To optimise outcomes, airports must consider new project delivery methods beyond the traditional ‘design-bid-build’ model. For example, the design-build method has one contract for both design and construction, reducing risk to the owner. Another innovation is the public-private partnership, or P3. The P3 model is most commonly used to build infrastructure such as highways and transit. But in recent years, we are starting to see more airport P3s come online, as airports learn about the benefits of this delivery model. This paper posits that, no matter what project delivery method is used, the success or failure of a project often comes down to three questions: (1) Do you have a clear mission? (2) Do you have the right team? and (3) Is your team in alignment with your vision? Project delivery has been evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing built-environment and technological advancements. Airports learn from each other, and with every new project, we evolve to the next level.
Keywords: airports; culture; leadership; development; construction; accountability
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Bob Bolton is a LEED-accredited professional and is Director of Airport Design & Construction for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, which operates San Diego International Airport. He has been responsible for high-profile projects such as the ‘Green Build’ expansion of Terminal 2 in 2013, the world’s first LEED Platinum–certified commercial airport terminal. He also led the development of the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility (2018), Terminal 2 Parking Plaza (2018) and the consolidated Rental Car Center (2016), among others. Bob has been a licensed architect in California since 1993. He has worked for the Port District/Airport Authority since 1998 as a project manager and has facilitated numerous airport design and construction projects, including the integration of public art and architecture. Bob has spoken about and published papers on best practices in leadership and culture in delivering large, complex capital projects. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the American Association of Airport Executives and the Construction Management Association of America. He graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree with an emphasis in environmental design.
Jonathan Heller is a writer, editor and communications strategist who has focused on sustainability and development for much of his 31-year career. In addition to San Diego International Airport, where he is senior communications specialist, Jonathan has assisted numerous other large and small organisations in clarifying their strategic vision, developing and communicating message platforms, securing media coverage and serving as a media spokesman. Jonathan has helped guide communications for some of San Diego’s largest infrastructure and commercial projects, including major airport capital improvements, regional high-voltage transmission lines and rail and highway projects. Jonathan has also provided public relations services for some of San Diego’s most critically needed nonprofits, such as the Water Reliability Coalition, Serving Seniors, Surfrider Foundation, Community HousingWorks and Second Chance. Jonathan previously spent more than a dozen years as a reporter and editor at the region’s two major daily newspapers, covering downtown San Diego development and redevelopment, politics and local government. Jonathan has a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York, Fredonia.
