SAME Charleston Monthly Luncheon – September 2024
Charleston International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, the airport shares its runways under a joint-use agreement with Joint Base Charleston. As South Carolina’s busiest airport, Charleston International has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic, with 2023 marking its busiest year ever, serving over 6.1 million passengers.
WHEN: Wednesday, 11 September 2024 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
WHERE: ECPI University, 3800 Paramount Drive North Charleston, SC 29405
Flight Path to Progress: Charleston International Airport Terminal Development Program
A substantial $200 million redevelopment project was completed in 2016, which expanded the airport’s capacity through the addition of five new gates and a comprehensive renovation of the interior facilities. This development significantly enhanced the aesthetic and functional aspects of the airport, improving the overall passenger experience.
Following up on these improvements, the airport saw the completion of a major infrastructural addition in 2020—a one million square foot, five-level parking garage that can accommodate 3,000 vehicles, addressing the increased demand for parking due to higher passenger volumes. Despite these enhancements, the continuous increase in passenger numbers before and after the pandemic has compelled further expansion. The current facilities, both on the landside and airside, are becoming insufficient to handle the projected future growth. The upcoming expansion plans are thus crucial, not only for maintaining operational efficiency but also for ensuring the airport can continue to accommodate growth sustainably and effectively.
The presentation on the airport’s development will delve into the history of Charleston International, tracing its evolution from a smaller service airport to its current status as a key player in the regional and national aviation sectors. It will also highlight how the airport addressed the immediate needs by identifying “quick wins” – short-term improvements that were implemented to enhance capacity and efficiency. Looking toward the future, the presentation will outline a comprehensive expansion plan. The presentation will detail the expansion phases and the expected impact on capacity and services. Key projects include new concourses, ticket hall, and baggage handling expansion, aircraft, and vehicle parking facilities.
SPEAKER – Nate Yokoyama, PE, CM
Nate Yokoyama is the Director of Engineering for the Charleston County Aviation Authority. The Authority operates South Carolina’s busiest and fastest-growing airport, Charleston International, and two general aviation airports, Mt Pleasant Regional and Charleston Executive Airport. He is responsible for the planning, design, and construction, for all capital and large maintenance projects.
Nate began his career as a bridge design engineer, but determined that the confines of a cubical were not for him. He then relocated to Charleston and worked as a field engineer for bridge and roadway construction. While working in the field, he found interest in geotechnical and construction materials and joined S&ME, Inc. in 2004 where he served as a project manager for 13 years.
Before joining the Aviation Authority in 2018, Nate served as a senior construction project manager for the City of Charleston’s capital projects division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Florida State University and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of South Carolina. Nate resides in Awendaw where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Jenny, daughter Clark, and two dogs, Boozy and Tiny Tim. He is a practitioner of Maui Thai and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. When not at the gym or spending time with his family, you will most likely find him riding his zero-turn lawn mower or crocheting in his recliner.