New Restrooms at BWI Marshall Airport

This project consisted of six sets of new restrooms at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI Marshall) Airport, which maximized occupant capacity and enhanced the overall passenger experience.

The facilities–which were named America’s Best Restroom by CINTAS in 2023–provide more space, fully enclosed stalls for privacy, LED stall occupancy lights, easy-to-clean surfaces, and smart, low-contact amenities that alert custodial staff when refills are needed. Each restroom location also has individual family assist rooms, adult changing rooms, and lactation rooms.

Working alongside team members from AECOM, Jacobs, and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, JMT provided construction management, inspection, and commissioning services.

JMT’s role in the project was expansive and included providing onsite management; ensuring compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and other guidelines; reviewing, negotiating, and processing change orders; documenting the construction process and maintaining project records; arranging delivery, storage, protection, and security for supplies purchased by the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA); reviewing safety programs and making recommendations for corrective action; and a variety of other responsibilities.

JMT also provided extensive inspection services on the project; civil, architectural, electrical, and mechanical inspectors were present on site every day. These inspectors were a key factor in ensuring the quality of work met MAA’s specifications.

Additionally, our inspectors and engineers successfully tackled challenges that arose in integrating new systems and equipment into the airport’s existing electrical, HVAC, building automation, communications, and fire protection systems. Our team also coordinated with regulatory authorities and building officials to understand and navigate applicable codes and permitting processes.

In addition to CMI services, a separate JMT commissioning (Cx) team led by a certified commissioning agent provided commissioning services for each restroom and its supporting ancillary spaces. Our team developed custom functional performance test procedures for the mechanical, electrical, lighting, plumbing, and smart restroom systems.

Prove-out of the smart restroom system was particularly rigorous, as it was a hallmark for the new restrooms. Highlights included inventory control monitoring of dispensable products and a stall occupancy notification system comprised of individual stall availability lights and integrated digital signage for real-time occupancy counts. In lieu of sampling, the team tested and calibrated every sensor individually.

Throughout the project’s construction, the Cx team chaired regular commissioning progress meetings to coordinate the commissioning process and provided final recommendations to the MAA for system acceptance upon completion.

Across all aspects of the project, JMT excelled in establishing and maintaining communication and collaboration with the numerous stakeholders involved.

The scale of the new facilities meant that the construction impacted a range of other stakeholders within the airport. Some gates had to be closed temporarily, and tenants had to be relocated to accommodate the construction. JMT worked closely with the contractor, MAA, the airlines, commercial management, individual tenants, and other relevant groups to ensure that impacts on day-to-day operations were limited and that gate closures did not extend beyond established deadlines.

Our staff also carefully tracked the numerous timelines associated with the project’s phased construction, ensuring that relevant parties were notified at least 60 days prior to construction when tenants needed to relocate temporarily and that all closed gates were reopened on time.

On the inspection side, JMT’s inspectors met regularly with the fire marshal for wall and ceiling close-in inspections to ensure that there were no fire code issues.

JMT staff maintained a positive customer service rapport with all stakeholders throughout the project’s duration.

JMT’s commitment to collaboration, safety, and excellence helped to make the BWI Marshall Airport restrooms improvement project a tremendous success. In addition to the project being named America’s Best Restroom, the Construction Management Association of America honored the project team at the regional and national levels.