Featuring a 90,000-sq-ft, three-bay aircraft maintenance hangar and a 40,000-sq-ft ground support equipment and provisioning facility, this $85-million project plays a pivotal role in Southwest Airlines’ expanding operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Across nearly 200,000 worker hours, crews logged zero lost-time accidents and zero recordables due to innovative safety programs and strategies tailored for the project.

A CARES committee integrates craft personnel with project superintendents for weekly site safety walks and meetings, but on this project, the committee included one craft worker from each trade partner, starting with three members and growing to 18 at peak. This committee played a pivotal role in maintaining an impeccable record by addressing and resolving safety concerns weekly.

Hensel Phelps collaborated with airport airside operations and security to install a temporary air operations area barrier that kept the construction area in a “landside bubble,” away from ongoing airport operations, ensuring a safer work environment for craftspeople. This also reduced the risk of foreign object debris on the airfield.

With numerous trades working simultaneously in different areas, there was potential for workspace conflicts and safety hazards. Each trade partner committed to specific work areas and coordinated their activities with other firms, ensuring all work was conducted safely and efficiently without interference from other trades.