Indy Airport Earns Highest Honor for Sustainable Infrastructure

INDIANAPOLIS – (Dec. 21, 2022) -- The Indianapolis Airport Authority has undertaken an innovative and environmentally sustainable approach to its current Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D reconstruction project at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) that has earned it praise and honors from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. The ISI has recognized the $190 million project with the Envision Platinum Award, which is the institution’s highest award for sustainability and resiliency. The award tops the list of recent honors and recognition the Indy airport has received for its sustainability efforts and infrastructure projects.

“The Indy airport is a public asset that is essential to the community and our job here at the Indianapolis Airport Authority is to ensure that asset maintains or increases its value and function, and to do it in a way that is environmentally responsible,” explained Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “This award underscores that the runway reconstruction is an excellent example of how to achieve both of those commitments to the community.”

Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D are critical infrastructure at the Indy airport. Runway 5R-23L is a 150-foot-wide-by-10,000-foot-long runway that supports most cargo operations at the airport, along with a significant amount of commercial airline traffic. It is the first airfield project in the world to receive this prestigious Envision Platinum award.

“The Indy airport is committed to sustainable and resilient development, maintenance, and operations,” said Jarod Klaas, IAA senior director of planning and development. “This award shows that through thoughtful design, innovation, and collaboration, we can deliver a project that meets our needs without compromising the needs of others.”

Along with the project’s renewable energy measures and novel use of technology to reduce carbon emissions, the project was also recognized for its contribution to the local economy and workforce development, its use of life-cycle economic analysis and its approach to working with project partners.

“The project team recognized the potential for job creation with the project but went much further, collaborating with local partners to address opportunity gaps and proposing an even stronger community impact,” said Melissa Peneycad, ISI managing director. “The project also builds in several environmental accomplishments, and notably, it represents the first-ever FAA-approved design for an airfield project using carbon-capture technology.”

The project was designed by Circle City Aviation Partners, a joint venture of firms led by Kimley-Horn Associates, with sustainability integration services provided by C&S Companies.

Captured carbon dioxide will be used in the new concrete mix to prevent the CO2 from contributing to global warming, and the existing runway concrete will be crushed into gravel onsite and recycled directly back into the project.

The project also will incorporate solar photovoltaic energy production and battery storage, which will offset electrical consumption used in the reconstruction. In addition, the project will incorporate a 1,000-kilowatt, direct-current solar PV system that is anticipated to generate renewable energy production to exceed the reconstruction’s expected electricity consumption. The excess energy will serve additional loads on the airfield, including other airfield electrical systems located beyond the construction site.

Economic analyses show that for each dollar spent on the Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D reconstruction, an additional $0.80 of economic activity in Marion County will be generated. The project also will create more than 2,700 jobs and has spent over $14.2 million to date with more than 15 diverse businesses. The IAA anticipates more diverse business participation as the project proceeds in subsequent years. The project is being constructed in three phases from 2022 to 2024.

“This project has pushed the boundaries of what sustainability means for airport infrastructure,” said Todd Cavender, IAA director of environment and sustainability. “We’ll take these lessons learned and continue to elevate our sustainability commitment in strategic projects moving forward.”

IND A Leader in Sustainability

The Indy airport was also honored recently with two additional recognitions supporting environmental sustainability.

The Airports Council International-North America honored the Indy airport with the 2022 Environmental Achievement Award for its outreach and communication associated with the Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D reconstruction. ACI-NA’s Environmental Committee recognized IAA’s early and ongoing coordination with stakeholders, which resulted in the application of never-before-used technology and innovative construction methods. The project enhances environmental, operational, and social benefits while also realizing cost savings through extensive coordination with a key stakeholder (FedEx) and broadening greenhouse-gas reduction efforts.

ACI-NA also recertified the Indy airport with a Level 3 Optimization designation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, which recognizes airport efforts to manage and reduce their CO2 emissions through independent assessment and verification. As part of Airport Carbon Accreditation, airports commit to reducing their emissions by making investments in heating and lighting efficiency technology, electric or hybrid vehicles, and stakeholder engagement to encourage further emissions reductions. Indianapolis Airport Authority reliever airports (Hendricks County Airport-Gordon Graham Field, Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, and Indianapolis Regional Airport, Metropolitan Airport) were upgraded to Level 2 Reduction. There are six levels of the program: mapping, reduction, optimization, neutrality, transformation, and transition.