A groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday for the new Rental Car Center at San Diego International Airport (SDIA). With joint venture Austin│Sundt and Demattei Wong Architecture leading the construction and design effort, the facility will house a number of rental car companies — including the leading national brands, local and independent rental car companies.

According to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, the new facility will serve as a central location for rental car customers. Instead of several brand-specific shuttles, there will be one consolidated shuttle serving all rental car companies.

“Today was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this first step in the construction of the Rental Car Center at San Diego International Airport,” said Thella F. Bowens, president/CEO of the Airport Authority. “The consolidated busing will reduce traffic on Harbor Drive and allow the Rental Car Center to provide a positive impact for our passengers, neighbors and the environment … a true benefit for the region as a whole.”

Customer facility charges will help fund the design and construction. According to the Airport Authority, this means customers will fund it through charges — such as rent and/or a fee that is added to rental charges — collected by rental car companies and remitted back to the Airport Authority. The estimated cost for the Rental Car Center is $316 million.

The new facility is set to open in 2016.