Strengthening Security for One of Michigan's Largest Airport Expansion Programs
Concourse A Expansion (Project ELEVATE) | Gerald R. Ford International Airport | Grand Rapids, MI
As part of Gerald R. Ford International Airport's $600 million ELEVATE capital improvement program, the Concourse A Expansion added eight new gates, retail and concession space, accessible passenger amenities, and additional operational capacity to support the airport's continued growth. The project required the seamless integration of new life safety and security technologies within an active international airport, where maintaining day-to-day operations and passenger safety was paramount.
SecurAlarm was selected to deliver the life safety and security systems supporting the expanded concourse, including fire alarm, access control, intercoms, and video surveillance.
Beyond the installation itself, the project required integrating new technologies with existing airport infrastructure while maintaining continuous operations inside an active international airport. Working alongside airport staff, contractors, and technology partners, our team coordinated complex system integrations, testing, and commissioning to ensure a seamless transition from legacy systems to modern technology.
One of the project's greatest challenges involved transitioning from a legacy fire alarm system to modern technology while maintaining NFPA code compliance. Our team engineered a relay-based interface between systems that were not designed to communicate and collaborated with another airport technology partner to integrate the fire alarm and overhead paging systems, enabling new automated emergency communications capabilities.
Working within a high-security, passenger-active environment required extensive coordination with airport operations, contractors, and technology partners. Through comprehensive testing, commissioning, and quality control, SecurAlarm helped ensure the expanded concourse was equipped with reliable life safety and security systems that support both today's operations and the airport's future growth.
Project Highlights
$600 million airport expansion initiative
Fire alarm, access control, intercom, and video surveillance integration
Complex system migration within an active airport environment
Collaborative integration across multiple airport technologies