Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)’s new 55,462 SF cargo facility provides UPS with a branded sorting center to better facilitate shipping and packaging needs. As the lead architect, Mead & Hunt collaborated with CID, UPS, the airport’s civil engineering firm, and multiple subconsultants to design a complex facility that met the needs of all involved.
The in-depth coordination process involved several large meetings with over 20 stakeholders. Due to the pandemic, in-person meetings were cancelled. As stakeholder feedback was paramount to the project’s success, the team got creative and facilitated virtual meetings that allowed for review and feedback. Breakout rooms, digital white boards, and real-time markup tools were used to allow each stakeholder’s voice to be heard. The new facility accommodates complex sorting equipment and includes conveyor belts to quickly transport cargo from the airport’s planes. A 14,000 SF covered caster deck was precisely sized and incorporates rollers to move seamlessly in and out of the facility to easily transport equipment. Palette colors were carefully selected and incorporated in the design to promote UPS branding
Through this important collaboration, CID gained a cargo facility capable of serving the needs of its end users for many years to come.