VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects, Vancouver, BC
ENGINEER: WSP, Victoria
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: Durwest Construction Management Inc., Victoria
Materials
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) has won numerous awards for customer service, hospitality and environmental achievements. YYJ is the third busiest airport in the province of British Columbia. Almost 19 years ago, when the Victoria Airport Authority was embarking on the first of many airport expansion projects at YYJ, facilities personnel were receiving regular complaints about jet-engine-exhaust odors entering offices, the main terminal and baggage-claim areas.
As part of the first terminal building expansion in 2001, Dynamic 2-inch Tandem Air Cleaners were installed in four new custom air-handling units and one existing air-handling unit serving a baggage-claim area, customs area, ticketing and arrivals area, pre-board and retail spaces, and new baggage-handling facility.
“We were a little skeptical of the Dynamic air cleaners’ ability to remove VOCs and jet wash, but the airport personnel were anxious to solve the problem,” recalls Paul Timmins, senior project engineer at WSP. “Once the air cleaners were installed, the odor complaints stopped, and the airport has been happy with the performance ever since.”
Although the mechanical portion of each phase went out for bid, owners have specified the same air-cleaning technology on all subsequent phases of airport expansion, including an $11.2 million renovation and expansion of the Terminal Building Departures area in 2004. In 2009, a renovated Eagles Landing Observation Lounge was opened. In 2010, a new Operations Centre was opened for fire-protection and emergency-response operations. In 2012, new terminal building improvements were unveiled, including the expansion of the pre-board security screening area, new concessions and food areas, and a new retail store. In 2016, baggage-handling operations were upgraded, which included replacement of the primary baggage screening machines, demolition of existing conveyors, supply and installation of new conveyors, and a building expansion to suit the new conveyors.
The most recent project includes the expansion of the Lower Hold Room, or groundfloor departure lounge, after passengers clear security screening. It includes the addition of approximately 19,000 square feet of space to the current Hold Room and includes new and expanded food and beverage services, retail services, washrooms, airline counters and basement support areas. Dynamic V8 Air Cleaning Systems will be utilized on the new expansion. The Dynamic V8 systems offer MERV 15 performance, maintenance intervals measured in years, and low static pressure drop that reduces fan energy and brake horsepower.
AIR CLEANERS MANUFACTURER: Dynamic Air Quality Solutions
AIR-HANDLING UNITS MANUFACTURER: Haakon Industries
VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES MANUFACTURER: Trane
RADIANT HEATING MANUFACTURER: Fraccaro Radiant Solutions
TRENCH HEATING MANUFACTURER: Kampmann GmbH
Photos: COURTESY OF DURWEST CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT INC.