Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Building Enclosure Commissioning for the Phase II expansion of course at CLT Airport

Charlotte (CLT) Douglas International Airport ranks among the busiest in the Southeast, making the structural integrity of its Concourse A expansion a matter of public safety and operational continuity.

Phase II continues the expansion ECS Group of Companies supported under Phase I, adding approximately 192,000 sq. ft. and ten additional gates. The three-story structure features a building enclosure composed primarily of glass curtain wall and metal wall panels, PVC roofing assemblies and metal-framed skylights, a complex assembly requiring rigorous field testing across multiple systems and mobilizations.

Challenge: Multi-system building enclosure on an active airport campus

The Phase II terminal presented a layered building enclosure challenge. Curtain wall systems, fluid-applied air barriers, insulated metal wall panels, PVC roofing, joint sealants and metal-framed skylights each required testing under distinct standards and scheduling windows. Coordinating multiple mobilizations within an active airport environment, without a formal project schedule provided in advance, added logistical complexity to an already demanding scope.

Solution: Systematic building enclosure commissioning across seven systems

ECS Southeast LLP provided building envelope testing services as part of the building envelope commissioning (BECx) process, covering seven distinct systems. The deep foundation system presented the most technically demanding aspect of the project, and ECS’ ability to test and monitor it under active airport conditions was what made the expansion viable from a structural standpoint.