As architect and engineer-of-record for the Tampa International Airport’s Central Utility Plant, HNTB took an innovative approach to infrastructure that’s typically hidden away: Make it a showpiece.

“TPA’s vision turned a utilitarian building into a gem in the center of their campus,” said Mathew Hallett, HNTB senior design principal.

The 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art plant is home to an upgraded heating and air conditioning system for the airport’s Main Terminal, including the building’s SkyConnect train station.

Tucked into a bend in the airport’s Red Express Curbsides exit drives, the curved building hugs the inbound lanes of the George J. Bean Parkway.

As passengers travel along the parkway, they encounter strategically placed openings in the Central Utility Plant’s facade. Each opening offers a distinct view of different areas of the facility, revealing vibrant equipment and piping. At night, multicolored LED lighting enhances the surprising visuals. The reclaimed water used in the cooling towers does double duty as an architectural water feature.

But it’s not just a work of art inside and out. It’s also designed to:

• Reduce chiller energy consumption by 30%
• Use 100% reclaimed water, saving 25 million gallons annually
• Increase capacity from 3,600 tons to 4,800 tons
• Provide additional redundancy to meet peak demand

“With this project, we showed that a largely mechanical building doesn’t need to be hidden away,” said Andrés Chacón, HNTB aviation group director. “It can help you reach your sustainability goals and better serve your facilities and customers and tenants, but also be something beautiful and special.”