In conjunction with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, the Austin/Sundt joint venture team accepted an Associated General Contractors Build San Diego award for the San Diego International Airport Rental Car Center in the category of Excellence in Building Construction – Public Work.

The 2-million-square-foot building can accommodate as many as 19 rental car companies under one roof. The structure includes a customer service building, maintenance, fueling and washing, and a 5,400-car ready/return area.

“We’re proud to have our work recognized by our peers in the industry,” said Brad Kirsch, director of Sundt Project. “Our joint venture team was able to deliver a complex structure that significantly improves the airport rental car process.”

The rental car facility is LEED Gold certified. It features reclaimed water and site bioswale filters, energy efficient equipment and lighting, and the installation of regional and recycled materials. Through the use of shared facilities, energy and water use are consolidated and reduced. The centralized facility also helps improve air quality by reducing the number of shuttles from 81 to 16, all of which use alternative fuel.

The rental car center is the largest concrete structure in San Diego.