San Diego International Airport

Terminal 2 Parking Plaza

In 2016, Intellient joined the San Diego International Airport (SAN) Terminal 2 Parking Plaza project. The Terminal 2 Parking Plaza site spanned nine acres and included 1 million square feet of construction and renovation across three levels.

For customers, the Parking Plaza created a streamlined experience to provide a more efficient payment process, a parking guidance system to direct customers to the nearest open space, and a process for reserving spaces in advance. These features allowed for a positive atmosphere as the first touchpoint before customers enter the airport.

Intellient was responsible for the smart garage technology systems design coordination, systems implementation management, testing, commissioning, and project close-out for Swinerton Builders.

Project Details

The $127.8 million plaza was designed to include 2,901 “close-in” parking spaces—spaces that allow travelers to park within walking distance of Terminal 2. Seven glass-back elevators were also included in the project scope, allowing riders to see through the walls of the cab for increased safety. The design also featured open light wells and public art installations.

Designing an environmentally sustainable space was critical, so the plaza incorporated natural lighting, energy-efficient light fixtures, and a system for capturing and treating rainwater for re-use. As a side benefit, the plaza’s parking guidance system was expected to reduce emissions from cars waiting to find a place to park.

The project also required several off-site improvements, including parking lot reconfigurations, utility relocations, and access to the existing airport campus.