New Facility for Southwest Airlines Awarded to Texas Builder

By Keith Loria

Ray Sedey, McCarthy Building Cos.

Dallas—McCarthy Building Cos. has been tapped to develop “Wings”, Southwest Airlines’ new 414,000 square-foot office and training facility on the company’s corporate campus in Dallas, Texas.

The building will include an attached 367,000-square-foot flight training center which will house 18 flight simulator bays, associated offices and ancillary areas. The training portion of the structure will be constructed out of a special hardened building that can withstand 210-mile winds as it must remain operational every day of the year in all weather conditions.

“The Wings project is a very exciting and technically complex project, which is just the type of project McCarthy is known for. However, the real appeal is having the opportunity to work and partner with Southwest Airlines,” Ray Sedey, McCarthy president of its Texas region, told Commercial Property Executive. “Southwest’s focus on safety, customer service and living the Southwest Way, lines-up exactly with McCarthy’s mission and core values.”

Also included in the project is a 1,900-car parking garage and surface parking that will provide for a total of 2,500 cars, as well as additional site work and construction of pedestrian bridges.

The project architect is BOKA Powell and the landscape architect/civil engineer is Pacheco Koch. Reed Wells Benson is the mechanical and electrical engineer and L.A. Fuess Partners and Ponce-Fuess are providing structural engineering services on the project.

“Being selected for this project is gratifying in many ways. First, we’re proud to work with an exceptional client. We believe this is the start of a long-term working relationship and that McCarthy can support Southwest, in every way, into the future,” Sedey said. “Secondly, we have the opportunity to work side-by-side with BOKA Powell and their consultants to help develop and build a state-of-the-art facility that furthers Southwest’s business goals. Finally, our goal is to use this project as a springboard that showcases McCarthy’s strengths and enables us to expand our work with Southwest into the other cities that they serve.”

The project will commence in June and is scheduled for completion by early 2018.

Building Southwest Airline’s new facility extends McCarthy’s deep experience in the aviation sector. McCarthy has completed 40 airport projects from large–scale airport expansion and renovations, custom border patrol, federal inspection, flight and gate information and display systems, security screening checkpoints and baggage handling systems to airport parking facilities. According to Sedey, McCarthy is not simply focused on “projects” in Dallas.

“We are interested in building relationships and helping our clients in any and all ways that they need us,” he said. “Southwest is an exemplary company in Dallas, but more than that, they are great people. We are excited to build the project together and look forward to an extraordinary outcome.”