Southwest Airlines joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and other dignitaries February 16th at a ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening Southwest’s new home in Terminal E at PHL. Recently completed by Hunt Construction Group, the $45 million Terminal E Expansion features seven new aircraft gates, a 500-seat holding area, new restrooms, a mini-food court with new concessions, and a fantastic new piece of permanent artwork installed as part of the City’s Percent for Art Program.

“This new facility, that now allows us to operate out of one concourse, is a wonderful example of both Southwest Airlines and the City of Philadelphia working together in a public-private partnership to enhance air travel for the entire City,” stated Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Properties. “I know all of our hard-working Southwest Employees here in Philadelphia can’t wait to continue providing our legendary Customer Service from our new home in Terminal E.”

During the ceremony, Montgomery also announced a new and exciting destination for Philadelphians. Beginning June 27, 2010, the carrier is starting new service between Philadelphia and Boston Logan (BOS). Southwest will start with five daily nonstops between the two cities.
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Travelers must be loving the billion-dollar of improvements and new passenger terminal at Indianapolis International Airport.

J.D. Power and Associates announced that the Indianapolis airport ranks at the top of the list of 64 major airports in the country in a survey of passenger and visitor satisfaction during the past year.

That means that passengers think the new airport terminal had fewer lost luggage and other problems that have bedeviled other new airports.

“We found that Indianapolis ranked highest in both the small category of airports with fewer than 10 million passengers a year and also highest overall in the entire study. And that’s up from a tie for 13th in the previous study two years ago,” said Stuart Greif, vice president and general manager of global hospitality for J.D. Power.

The Hunt/Smoot Midfield Builders Joint Venture completed work on The Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal slightly more than a year ago, perfect timing for the market survey conducted from January to December 2009.
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Forest City Ratner Companies has awarded Hunt Construction Group the construction contract for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The cornerstone and the first building of the larger Atlantic Yards development, the Barclays Center will be a 675,000 SF sports and entertainment arena, featuring 18,000 seats for basketball and 19,000 seats for concerts, 104 luxury suites, public concourses on two levels, a suite level club restaurant, and an adjoining basketball practice facility. Designed by Ellerbe Becket and SHoP Architects, the Barclays Center will be constructed using a structural steel superstructure frame with structural precast seating bowl and a weathered steel rain screen facade.

The Barclays Center, which has already commenced construction, will host more than 200 events a year including professional, collegiate, and scholastic sporting events, concerts, family shows, and community activities. Upon its completion, the Barclays Center will be home to the NBA’s Nets, Brooklyn’s first major professional sports team since the 1957 departure of the Dodgers.

“Hunt is extremely proud to be a part of this historic endeavor, and is excited about serving as the design-builder,” stated Ken Johnson, Executive Vice President for Hunt.

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