Aerial photo of airport terminal airside area with planes parked at gates and one pulling out
An aerial photo shows the Orlando International Airport from the north, with the airside concourse in the foreground, the central energy plant at bottom left, the landside terminal at upper right and the stair towers for the Phase 1x expansion in the background. Phase 1x has since been expanded to the south.
Hanson Commissioning and Energy Technical Discipline Chief Jonathan Noordzy, P.E., CxA, EMP, QCxP, has extensive experience in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning; electrical, plumbing and fire protection system commissioning; design; construction administration; and building energy analysis for numerous facilities. He can be reached at jnoordzy@hanson-inc.com.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has blazed a steady path of expansion since the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) approved its South Terminal Complex in 2015. With South Terminal C opening in 2022 and long‑term plans for hundreds of additional gates across future phases, MCO continues to invest in infrastructure that supports more than 57 million travelers each year.

Room with concrete floor and yellow mechanical equipment on right
South Terminal C’s emergency
power generation plant
comprises seven 2-MW generators.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has blazed a trail of expansion since the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) approved its South Terminal Complex in 2015. With South Terminal C having opened in 2022 and long‑term plans for hundreds of additional gates across future phases, MCO continues to invest in infrastructure that supports over 57 million travelers each year.

During this expansion, Hanson has served as a trusted commissioning partner, enabling new systems to perform as intended from day one. Since our last update, our team completed commissioning for South Terminal C Phase 1, a $2.8 billion project that included a new airside concourse, a landside terminal, a ground transportation facility, a 10,000‑ton chiller plant and a 28‑megawatt (MW) emergency power plant serving the new terminals. We also recently commissioned the nearly complete Phase 1x expansion, which added four passenger boarding bridges and a 500‑foot, climate‑controlled pedestrian bridge smoothly connecting travelers from an automated people mover to the terminal.

Today, our work continues with commissioning services for GOAA’s new rental car lobby building, designed to provide seamless access between the pedestrian bridge and the parking garage. These facilities continue to enhance the passenger experience while improving the efficiency of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that account for much of the airport’s energy and water use.

“Through our commitment to these ongoing projects, Hanson’s commissioning efforts continue to build on proven approaches and lessons learned as well as applying advances in AI to the commissioning process,” said Jonathan Noordzy, P.E., CxA, EMP, QCxP, Hanson’s commissioning and energy technical discipline chief. “Our goal is to help the owner build higher-quality projects and realize more efficient operation of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that comprise a large part of airport energy and municipal water usage.”

As MCO continues to develop its infrastructure, Hanson remains committed to implementing proven commissioning approaches and lessons learned to help GOAA deliver reliable, efficient, traveler- and customer‑focused facilities — now and for years to come.