News

Massport and Delta Air Lines Receive the 2008 Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award
Boston Logan International Airport’s “Terminal A” Recognized As
Passenger-Friendly and Environmentally Responsible

February 28, 2008

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and Delta Air Lines are this year’s recipients of the prestigious “Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award” presented by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and the Airports Consultants Council (ACC). The award recognizes the environmental benefits achieved by Terminal A at Boston Logan International Airport. Terminal A was the first airport terminal in the world to receive Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Massport and Delta required the building, which opened in March 2005, to incorporate green building practices.

The chair of the Speas Award Selection Committee, Dr. Gano Chatterji of the University of California-Santa Cruz, said “the Committee is very excited to present the award to the Massachusetts Port Authority and Delta Air Lines, Inc. to recognize their leadership and efforts to bring environmental concepts to airport terminal design.”

The award was presented today at the AAAE/ACC 2008 Airport Planning, Design, and Construction symposium held in Denver, Colorado. The award honors the efforts of Massport and Delta Air Lines in working to create a $480 million facility that achieves a compatible relationship between the airport and the adjacent environment.

“Receiving this award is an honor, as it highlights our success in implementing sustainable development at Logan Airport,” said Massport’s CEO & Executive Director Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. “With the efforts of our partner Delta Air Lines, the completion of Terminal A resulted in a world-class facility that provides an aesthetically-pleasing and healthier environment for our passengers, employees, and local communities.”

Terminal A received its LEED certification in 2006, one year after opening. It was constructed with sustainable materials such as pre-cast concrete, panels of wood from renewable forests, and recycled products. The terminal uses 50 percent less water for irrigation and 30 percent less in bathrooms; it has special storm water filtration devices. It also has efficient windows which reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Lights automatically dim in daylight, so natural light can be used to reduce energy usage.

The Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award is presented annually, and is given to those whose contributions have done the most to promote a positive and balanced relationship between airports and the surrounding environments.

In addition to the first LEED-certified airport terminal in the world, Massport embraces other environmental initiatives including the first ISO 14001 airport, container terminal and bridge in the U.S.; a 100-space preferred parking program to customers driving hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to the airport; and a CleanAir Cab initiative in conjunction with the City of Boston. Massport also recently introduced a new cell phone waiting lot that reduces congestion on airport roadways. And Logan’s fleet of 33 CNG shuttle buses recently logged their 11-millionth clean air mile.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) advances the state of aerospace science, engineering, and technological leadership. Headquartered in suburban Washington, DC, the Institute serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government.

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) is the international trade association that represents the unique interests of consultant firms and related businesses that provide airport development and operations expertise. Founded in 1978, ACC Headquarters is located in the Washington, D.C. Area.

American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) was founded in 1928, and represents the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. AAAE serves its membership through representation in Washington, D.C.