Address: 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
Work: KENPAT provided interior framing, drywall and ceilings for the new automated people mover complex at Orlando International Airport, the busiest airport in Florida by passenger count and one of the largest in the United States by land area.
Vertical: Government
General Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Company
Architect: HKS Architects, Inc.
Dates: December 2016 – January 2018
Awards:
• 2018 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award
Orlando International Airport Automated People Mover Complex
Situation
In 2016, Orlando International Airport authority planned to expand by creating a new South Terminal. A 200,000-square-foot facility was constructed to include the station for the Automated People Mover system that connects passengers between the South Terminal and the Main Terminal at the Orlando airport.
Task
General Contractor Hensel Phelps Construction Company hired KENPAT Central Florida to provide interior framing, specialty finishes, drywall, stucco, and ceilings for Orlando International Airport Automated People Mover complex. KENPAT installed 220,000 square feet of drywall, 25,000 square feet of acoustic ceilings, and 6,600 square feet of wood wall and ceiling panels.
Action
The interior drywall involved high work and tall walls. The coffered ceilings above the Transfer-level APM trains were completed using dance floor scaffolding, allowing access over the two train tracks. The acoustic ceiling tiles were installed after removing the scaffolding, using lifts and booms to work above the train tubes.
A significant challenge was creating the long continuous openings for linear air diffusers. Each coffer has a custom Armstrong Altitude ceiling with a one-foot gap that aligns with the one-foot step in the coffered soffit. Control joints in the drywall align with the middle joints of the Altitude ceiling in both directions.
Connecting the garage with the APM, the bridge had a custom metal barrel ceiling on its third level. The ceiling curved downward and was divided into five sections by four rows of continuous linear diffusers. The bracing and installation for these diffusers were exceptionally challenging and considered one of the most difficult tasks.
KENPAT’s acoustical work was especially important in the theaters. For example, in the smaller Pugh Theater, KENPAT installed special acoustical panels on the exterior surface of the control room. The unique multi-angled face of the room required precise work on the part of KENPAT installers to ensure the finished product not only dampened sound, but also provided an outstanding appearance.
The highlight of KENPAT's contribution to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is most evident in the 2,700-seat Disney Theater. Our work spans from the ceiling to the floor in this aesthetically pleasing and acoustically sound venue. The theater is topped with an acoustical plaster domed ceiling that was constructed entirely by KENPAT. Installers began with framing, custom shaping each rounded frame to support the ceiling. Subsequently, KENPAT’s skilled technicians plastered the interior of the dome, which remains visible from the theater.
The installation of acoustic wall panels on all sides of the theater was crucial to achieving the desired acoustical results. The architect designed the layout of these panels meticulously, ensuring no gaps were present in the spaces. This necessitated field measurements for every room and every panel to guarantee seamless integration. KENPAT executed the installation of these panels with precision, ensuring that all seams aligned perfectly both vertically and horizontally, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and acoustically effective environment. These panels are prominently visible from any location within the theater.
As a final step, KENPAT successfully installed panels to cover the AC vents in the theater. Special perforated vent pipes were utilized, allowing for a continuous flow of air throughout the length of each pipe. KENPAT custom-cut the covers to accommodate the varying angles resulting from the differing locations of the pipes.
Result
A new performing arts center brings high expectations, particularly in terms of acoustics. The challenge at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was to balance visual elegance with superior acoustics in a large space filled with reflective surfaces. KENPAT met that challenge with its expert framing, drywall, plaster, and acoustical ceiling work.
For its work on the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, KENPAT earned the 2015 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award.
Orlando International Airport Expansion
April 6, 2017
