Chattanooga Airport Celebrates LEED Silver Certification

Remodeled Commercial Terminal Reflects Airport’s Commitment to Sustainability

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Sept. 21, 2015) – Chattanooga Airport officials celebrated the achievement of LEED Silver Certification of the commercial terminal today with a dedication ceremony in honor of the late architect, Andy Roth.

“Andy Roth was a talented architect who had a significant impact on the overall look of our community and the airport,” said Terry Hart, President of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA). “He was an integral part of the DH&W design team, both when this terminal was built in 1990, and again as we began the renovation project. Our only regret was that he could not be here with his coworkers to see the finished product and the resulting LEED Silver Certification.”

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification.

“Obtaining LEED Silver certification of the commercial terminal reinforces our commitment to achieving the highest level of sustainability possible in all of our projects in order to minimize our environmental footprint for the betterment of our community,” said Dan Jacobson, Chairman of the CMAA Board.

LEED certification of the commercial terminal was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the community, including:

  • Recycling existing windows into recycled glass countertops for reuse in the terminal
  • Refurbishing seating rather than replacing the hundreds of chairs in the sitting areas
  • Recycling existing carpet and reinstalling it in another building on the airfield
  • Porcelain tile made with post-consumer recycled content and manufactured locally
  • Ultra-low flow fixtures and automatic faucets in the restrooms
  • LED light fixtures
  • White rooftops
  • Low VOC paints
  • Transportation options including establishing public bus service in partnership with CARTA, and installing a bicycle rack and repair station

Other sustainable projects completed by the Chattanooga Airport include opening the first LEED Platinum certified general aviation terminal in the world, two LEED Gold certified hangars, a 2.1 megawatt solar farm, and a national water quality demonstration project.