AIRPORTS
TURNER CONSTRUCTION Builds LDBE Capacity on Reagan National Project Journey
Reagan National Airport exterior rendering of the new 14-gate concourse looking to the southwest. (Courtesy: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)
“The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet” is a quote attributed to the Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu. The meaning of the quote is even the longest, most arduous undertaking is accomplished by taking small, seemingly inconsequential steps to reach the goal. In 2017, Turner Construction began the task of reaching a 25% contractual requirement for the participation of Local Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (LDBEs) on Reagan National Airport’s Project Journey, the capital program to transform the passenger experience. In a program budgeted at more than $500 million, this task is significant by itself, however, Turner Community Benefits Director Carolyn Ellison knows that finding willing and able contractors in the already stretched metropolitan Washington, D.C. construction market is an even tougher assignment.
Ellison’s role includes being Turner’s regional director for business diversity efforts, leading the company’s initiatives to meet the requirement established by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) on Project Journey. Her strategy to meet the project requirement has been to leverage all resources available to not only meet, but to exceed the client expectations for impactful participation of diverse firms on the major project. Ellison and the Turner Construction team is using three important resources to help complete the journey to success and provide significant opportunities to diverse firms in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The three resources being used by Turner include the benefit of an exciting and historic project at one of the America’s leading airports; a company with a strong reputation and a history of working well with diverse firms; and a supportive client willing to collaborate with Turner to achieve success. Armed with these three resources, Turner
Construction is on track to achieve 29% participation of LDBE firms by the completion of the Project Journey program.
A Significant Project Project Journey is offering qualified firms the opportunity to work on a major development project at one of America’s busiest and most prestigious airports – Ronald Reagan National. The project consists of building a new 14-gate concourse to replace busing to aircraft, two 50,000 square-foot security screening checkpoints, and reconfiguring an existing terminal to create new concessions and passenger travel areas. The project provides LDBEs the opportunity to gain experience working on an MWAA project through the LDBE program, hopefully building a track record of success that will lead to greater opportunities at the airport in the future.
/ summer 2019
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