KAI Provides MEP Engineering for $114M Lambert Airport Maintenance Complex
Date Posted: August 18, 2026
Posted In: Projects,
KAI is providing mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering services for a new $114 million Maintenance Complex at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).
The 285,000-square-foot complex will replace the airport’s existing 135,000-square-foot maintenance facility, which dates to the 1960s and is located in a flood-prone area.
Consolidating Nine Buildings Into Two
Located on higher ground, the new complex will consolidate operations now spread across nine aging buildings into two modern facilities.
The main operations and support building will include vehicle maintenance and repair, warehouse and storage areas, training and conference space, administrative offices and locker facilities. It is targeting LEED Silver certification.
A second building, approximately 200 feet by 600 feet, will provide enclosed storage and maintenance space for snow removal equipment, deicing vehicles, mowers and other specialized airfield equipment. It will also include wash bays, service areas and operational support space.
The design allows for a future deicing pad on the site of the existing maintenance buildings.
Supporting 24/7 Airport Operations
KAI is designing the MEP systems for the complex, which must support vehicle maintenance, equipment storage, warehousing, offices, wash bays, training facilities and secure air-side operations. The systems are being designed for energy efficiency, reliability and long-term performance.
“This facility is far more than a maintenance garage,” said KAI Mechanical Group Leader Peter McDonnell, PE, LEED AP BD+C. “It will serve as the operational hub for many of the airport’s critical support functions, from vehicle maintenance and equipment storage to snow removal and deicing operations.”
Construction began in October 2025 and is expected to be completed in late 2027. Wright Construction Services is the general contractor. Kwame and HR Green, Inc. serve as program manager. Jacobs is the prime designer, architect and structural engineer.
Strengthening Airport Infrastructure
Once completed, the complex will give the airport more indoor space for equipment storage and maintenance while improving its ability to respond during severe weather.
“This new facility represents a major step forward in strengthening the airport’s infrastructure,” said STL Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebrugge.
The project received a $20 million Federal Aviation Administration grant and a $4.6 million Airport Infrastructure Grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport serves approximately 15.6 million passengers annually. It operates as an Enterprise Fund Department of the City of St. Louis and is supported by airport user charges rather than the city’s general fund.