Project Description

Denver International Airport’s Runway 17L-35R Complex Pavement Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrades Package 2 Project has earned an Envision Verified award for sustainable infrastructure from ISI. This project was carried out as a continuation of the DEN Pavement Management Program, and it follows the recently completed Runway 17L-35R Pavement Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade, which earned Envision Silver.

“DEN and the City and County of Denver are deeply committed to sustainability, demonstrated by a range of integrated processes, programs, and initiatives across various levels of operation,” said Kara Wright ENV SP, Sustainability Project Manager and Envision Program Manager. “The outcomes of this project affirm that these efforts are actively advancing sustainability throughout the region, one project at a time.”

“Congratulations to Denver International Airport on earning Envision Verified for the Runway 17L-35R Complex Pavement Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrades Package 2 Project,” said Kailey Eldredge, ISI’s Verification Director. “DEN continues to plan, design, and develop sustainable infrastructure and this project demonstrated achievements across Envision including the category of leadership, quality of life, resource allocation, and the natural world.”

In compliance with the DEN Pavement Management Program, deteriorated pavement slabs and all joint seals were replaced on portions of Taxiway P and Taxiway EC within the Runway 17L-35R complex to promote continual safe operations. Other scope items in this project included sealing creaks, repairing spalls, repainting surface pavement markings, and replacing in-pavement bases, transformers, cables, and lighting fixtures as needed. The team took this closure window as an opportunity to also perform lighting upgrades to Taxiway EC which included the electrical conversion of remaining edge and centerline lighting systems to LED.

DEN continues to highlight its commitment to sustainable development and operations. Its Sustainability Design Standard Manual, for example, aligns with Denver’s Green Building Ordinance, One Water Plan, Denver Water’s net-zero carbon emissions goal for 2030, and the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy. In addition, DEN horizontal infrastructure projects exceeding $10M in total construction cost call for the use of Envision. It was decided that the Runway 17L-35R Complex Pavement Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrades Package 2 Project, while costing just under the $10M threshold, would pursue Envision verification, and a few of the project’s verified sustainability achievements are described below.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Sustainable Procurement – The design team promoted the adoption of a Sustainable Procurement Policy (SPP) through the development of detailed contract specifications. These specifications outlined requirements for the construction contractor to create a plan that established a defined process for selecting suppliers and manufacturers of materials, supplies, and equipment, ensuring alignment with qualifying environmental practices and social responsibility standards.

Construction Management – The project team developed and implemented a construction management plan that outlines strategies that address four types of construction impacts and include mechanisms developed by the owner for construction feedback, performance monitoring, and reporting. The project supported sustainable practices during the construction phase as well. Noise management programs, plans, and policies established by DEN provide strategies for evaluating the operational noise impacts associated with the operation of aircraft and include strategies to mitigate impacts of noise and vibration on the surrounding community and/or environment. Aligned with that approach, the airport and the project team worked to meet noise level targets established by the community, engage stakeholders in noise management strategies, and report on program performance.

Resource Allocation – As an example of achievement in this category, the project design team set an initial target for construction waste diversion providing that at least 95% of waste materials would be recycled, reused, and/or salvaged. The construction contractor implemented a construction waste management plan and developed a waste tracking tool allowing the final diversion rate for construction materials to be calculated. Through direct reuse, byproduct synergies, and recycling, the contractor diverted over 99% of construction waste.

Preserving Undeveloped Land – Because the project is a rehabilitation of existing assets, the full project area is located within previously developed land. During design kick-off, the project team identified an obsolete concrete pad near the project boundary. After removing the pad, the construction contractor used soils sourced from the project site and hydro mulch containing native, non-noxious seed mixes to restore the soil to support habitat and hydrology.

Collaboration and Teamwork – The project team’s collaboration and teamwork included an interdisciplinary collaborative kickoff meeting to discuss sustainability goals, subject matter expert meetings with design team members, and meetings with key stakeholders during the design process to foster an environment for project innovation. The project team worked together to identify opportunities to improve sustainable performance. The collaboration extended beyond initial meetings throughout project design — including stakeholders from later phases of operation, such as construction team members.