Honors for projects at Oakland, JFK and Kansas City showcase innovation in airport design, operations and redevelopment
Kansas City, Mo. (April 28, 2026) – HNTB is involved with three projects recognized in Airport Business’ 2026 Projects of the Year awards, a program that honors outstanding examples of airport development and innovation. The recognition highlights the projects that delivered forward-looking infrastructure to enhance passenger experience and support the evolving needs of airports and their communities.
Three HNTB-supported projects earned recognition in Airport Business’ 2026 Projects of the Year awards: Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport’s (OAK) Terminal Restroom Renovation Program, John F. Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) Central Substation 2, and Kansas City International Airport’s (MCI) Runway 1L-19R and High-Speed Connectors Reconstruction project.
At OAK, HNTB designed the Terminal Restroom Renovation Program to modernize aging facilities with an emphasis on efficiency, accessibility and long-term sustainability. The program introduced single-user family and gender-neutral restrooms, refreshed finishes and high-efficiency, low-water-use fixtures — all delivered while the terminal remained fully operational. The award recognizes the airport’s success in reimagining an essential passenger amenity as a modern, accessible and hospitality-inspired experience, demonstrating how targeted upgrades can improve passenger flow, elevate satisfaction and support long-term operations.
At JFK, HNTB served as program manager and owner’s representative for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the Central Substation 2, helping deliver a resilient power backbone for the airport’s $19 billion redevelopment. The project introduced JFK’s first 15-kilovolt, 40 MVA substation in a compact two-story design constructed within a highly constrained site. An innovative phased energization approach enabled early power delivery to new terminal facilities, helping keep the broa der program on schedule. The award recognizes the airport’s success in advancing reliable, efficient infrastructure that supports long-term growth and redevelopment.
At MCI, HNTB provided lead design for the Runway 1L-19R and High-Speed Connectors Reconstruction project that modernized critical airfield infrastructure and support the airport’s transition to a new single-terminal configuration. The program replaced more than 60-year-old pavement with a long-life Portland cement concrete system, realigned high-speed taxiways to improve aircraft flow and reduce runway occupancy time, and integrated updated lighting, drainage and electrical systems — all while maintaining continuous airfield operations. The award recognizes the airport’s success in modernizing essential airfield infrastructure in a way that improves operational efficiency, supports long-term performance and enables continued airport transformation.
