Construction on the $60 million El Paso International Airport renovation and expansion project began in the second quarter of 1995 and was completed by the beginning of 1998.  ECM International as prime, in association with Gilbane Building Company, served as the construction management agent for the design and construction process.  Key to the effort was a goal to minimize interference with the 24-hour airport operations and minimize the impact to retail businesses within the airport. ECM and Gilbane’s joint construction management role included design review, final design coordination, city administration and airport coordination, construction testing and inspection, construction and furniture bidding and installation, and overall project scheduling and cost control.

The 350,000 sq. ft. airport terminal required extensive demolition and asbestos abatement.  The terminal was completely remodeled including the replacement and/or upgrading of the interior finishes, mechanical, electrical and life safety systems, adding toilet facilities, and upgrading the FAA mandated access control systems.  The terminal has a new fire sprinkler system and a new interior arrival/departure signage system.  The baggage handling facility was expanded to provide two new conveyor systems and the replacement of the existing baggage handling systems.
 
ECM and Gilbane exceeded the 60 percent local and 25 percent Historically Underutilized (HUB) participation goals established for this project.  The $60 million construction budget was organized in over twenty-five construction packages to allow over 90 percent of the contractors to be locally based and the HUB participation over 39 percent.