Kansas City International Airport (KCI) recently opened a new terminal with LEED Gold certification. As a high-profile critical infrastructure project built to high performance standards, it received significant attention upon opening.

Celebrating the new terminal

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Feb. 27 to celebrate the new terminal's opening. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg attended and noted that this project was built not only on time, but also on budget—a feat of its own.

Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC and GBCI, was present along with many local elected officials, who highlighted the airport’s stylish new features and unveiled its LEED Gold plaque. Templeton presented the plaque to Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and Pat Klein, director of aviation for the city.

A group of people smiles at the camera in an airport in front of a sign saying All Gates, with one holding a LEED plaque

Project team members and USGBC staff celebrate the certification. Peter Templeton, USGBC president and CEO, holds the LEED plaque. Photo courtesy of USGBC.

LEED Gold certification

The new KCI terminal is the first airport project in the Midwest and the second in the United States to achieve LEED Gold certification under the LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction rating system. LEED certification has many benefits for airport facilities, like ensuring more energy-efficient, attractive, comfortable and healthy spaces for occupants—whether passengers or employees.

The event highlighted the sustainability features that helped the project attain LEED certification, including energy-saving measures and construction best practices to minimize dust, debris and moisture from being trapped in the building. The project also diverted 85% of all construction waste from landfill when dismantling the old terminal building to build the new one.

Local policy

The presence of local officials was particularly pertinent given that the push for LEED certification on the project was in large part due to local green building policies. In recent years, the city council of Kansas City has leveraged strategies, programs and policies toward achieving the city's climate goals. This has included requiring new city-owned facilities to be LEED-certified. LEED Silver certification was required for new city-owned facilities beginning in 2004. The standard was changed to LEED Gold starting in 2011.

In addition to Mayor Lucas, other local elected officials who attended the event included Missouri Gov. Mike Parson; Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland; U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (Missouri) and Sharice Davids (Kansas); former Mayor Sly James; and EPA Administrator, Region 7, Meg McCollister.

The event brought together the local USGBC community, government officials, volunteers and KCI project team members to celebrate this source of pride for the community.

See more LEED airports

Kansas City Airport showcases how LEED serves infrastructure projects