Hewett-Kier Construction wrapped up the construction of the largest single-ship cruise terminal in the world at Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida. The $55 million construction project expanding Cruise Terminal 18 was completed ahead of schedule and below budget for the arrival of the world’s largest cruise ship – Royal Caribbean International’s new 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.

Spacious Terminal Accommodates Thousands

Located in the center of Port Everglades, Terminal 18 is now the largest of the port’s cruise terminals with 240,000 sq. ft. of passenger space on two floors. The newly expanded terminal can accommodate departing and arriving guests at the same time, debarking and embarking through different sections of the building. The terminal area for debarking guests is 102,000 sq. ft., while the arrival area for embarking guests encompasses 138,000 sq. ft.

Construction on the terminal included hoisting one of the world’s largest tilt wall sections, weighing 162 tons, to serve as the main entranceway. The 45-ft.-wide and nearly 58-ft.-tall wall section included an opening for a curtain wall with a sun shade to provide shade for guests and natural light inside the building. The tilt wall was lifted into place by two cranes moving slowly in unison.

From Concept to Completion in 10 Months

Spearheaded by the Broward County Public Works Department’s Seaport Engineering and Construction Division with Hewett-Kier as construction manager, the Terminal 18 project was designed by renowned architects Bermello, Ajamil & Partners Inc.

The first phase of construction, completed in October 2008, consisted of the renovation of approximately 88,000 sq. ft. of existing warehouse space in Terminal 18, converting it into baggage space and customs offices for cruise ship use. Phase two of the project added approximately 152,000 sq. ft. to the terminal, including a systems expansion, reconfiguration of the traffic circulation, building the marine infrastructure and demolishing Building 16.

The Hewett-Kier team, headed by Project Executive James R. Hewett, LEED AP, featured a number of experienced project management professionals as well as the necessary mix of subcontractors, ensuring the project was delivered on time and below budget – just 10 months from initial concept to completion.

Terminal 18 Construction Facts

• Size: 240,000 sq. ft. (larger than the average Wal-Mart Supercenter)
• Unique aspect: Includes two of world’s largest tilt wall sections – 162-ton tilt wall at entranceway and 150-ton tilt wall in another section. The largest tilt wall in the project weighs as much as 31 adult male African elephants or one Boeing 747.
• Key design features: 4,000 sq. ft. skylight in the atrium and 3,000 sq.-ft. green and blue terrazzo flooring by renowned artist Michele Oka Doner
• Economic impact: More than 1,400 new construction jobs were created with construction; 8,000 jobs are expected to be created within five years with new cruise terminal, ship and maintenance
• Capacity: Terminal seats 3,000 guests
• Building materials used: 62,572,500 lbs of concrete , 3,200,000 lbs of steel, 4.25 miles length of fiber optics, 33.3 miles length of conduit and 153 miles length of wire