YP PM/CM Track Blog | AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design, & Construction Symposium

Martin-Harris Construction has been recognized with an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Best Projects Award in the Airports/Transit category for the Southwest Region for the International Gate Expansion at Harry Reid Airport. The accolade highlights the project's significant contributions to international travel and the economic growth of Las Vegas.

Enhancing International Connectivity
Designed to support increased global travel, the expansion doubled international gates, accommodating larger aircraft like the Airbus A380. This strategic development allows Harry Reid Airport to facilitate more direct international flights, strengthening Las Vegas' role as a premier travel destination.

A key innovation was the addition of a 995-foot underground tunnel linking these gates to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing facility in Terminal 3. This connection streamlines passenger movement while maintaining operational efficiency and security.

Innovative Design and Passenger Experience
The expansion introduced modern passenger amenities, including self-boarding systems, expanded seating, charging stations, and upgraded flight information displays. The tunnel’s design enhances the passenger experience with curvilinear LED lighting inspired by aircraft fuselage, historical Las Vegas imagery, and visually distinct zones that make the journey feel intuitive and engaging.
By integrating function with thoughtful design, the new international gates provide a more comfortable and efficient travel experience for visitors arriving in Las Vegas.

Driving Economic Growth and Industry Advancement
This expansion has had a significant impact on the Las Vegas economy by enabling new non-stop international flights. Direct flights improve convenience for global travelers, making Las Vegas more accessible and further supporting the tourism industry.
Beyond functionality, the project blends Las Vegas’ cultural identity with aviation-inspired design elements. The use of historical imagery and sleek architectural features creates a welcoming environment that reflects the city's character.

The Harry Reid International Gates Expansion highlights the importance of strategic infrastructure improvements in meeting growing travel demands. By enhancing capacity and efficiency, the project contributes to the continued growth of international tourism in Las Vegas.

1 This image shows the new exterior structure – the vertical core - off the existing D gates which contains the stairs and escalators that lead passengers to the underground tunnel/sterile corridor and the CBP processing area.

2 This image depicts the new sterile corridor on the left hand side at the D gates hold room waiting area where arriving travelers are kept separated from other passengers until they are led to CBP processing facility via an underground tunnel. Other gate area improvements include a new gate flight information display system (FIDS), charging stations for electronic devices and a seating area expansion to the passenger hold rooms.

3 Gate area improvements included new overhead gate information display systems (GIDS) and a self-boarding system at each newly converted gate area.

4 International passengers are welcomed to Las Vegas with black and white, vintage Las Vegas images incorporated into a custom wallpaper and a color mural depicting nearby Red Rock Canyon.

5 Leaning, curved walls with distinct lighting, along with patterned terrazzo flooring bring life to the space and create segments that break up the long linear distance of the tunnel.

5 The tunnel’s architectural design was based on the concept of an airplane fuselage and dynamic movement to make the space feel less like a traditional tunnel. The use of segmentation via lighting, artwork and floor graphics helped break down the travel distance and improve the experience for the traveler.

5 Backlit color images of the Las Vegas area line one wall of the tunnel leading from the D gates to the CBP processing facility.

5 One directional curved lighting provides the added feature of visually informing passengers when they are traveling in the wrong direction in the one way sterile corridor.

Innovation and Growth at Harry Reid International Airport