Case Study: Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority enhances Memphis International Airport Concourse B with Thornton Tomasetti

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority modernizes 350,000 ft² Concourse B with Thornton Tomasetti

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority required a major modernization of the aging Concourse B at Memphis International Airport. Their challenge was to create larger, more energy-efficient spaces and improve the passenger experience while also upgrading the facility to meet modern seismic codes due to its proximity to the New Madrid Fault Line. For this sweeping renovation, the Authority engaged Thornton Tomasetti to provide structural design, façade engineering, and sustainability consulting services.

Thornton Tomasetti implemented an innovative solution featuring long-span steel trusses to create wider, column-free corridors and higher ceilings. They designed a new structural-steel framing system to seismically buttress the existing concrete frame. Their sustainability and façade work introduced strategies like a modified displacement ventilation and a high-efficiency glazing curtain wall that darkens with sunlight. The project, completed in 2022, successfully modernized the 350,000 ft² concourse with 60 gates, safeguarding it against seismic activity while enhancing passenger flow and energy performance.

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority