Building in Plain Sight
How Swinerton delivered a seamless airport renovation ahead of the World Cup—without disrupting a single traveler.
As Seattle prepared to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup, one of its busiest gateways—Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)—faced a critical challenge.
How do you renovate one of the most visible, high-traffic areas in the airport without anyone noticing?
For Swinerton, the goal went beyond completing the work. It meant protecting the passenger experience, maintaining operational flow, and delivering a project that reflects the standards of a global stage.
The Challenge: High Visibility. Zero Tolerance for Disruption.
The Ground Transportation Booth project sits at the center of airport activity, where passengers, rideshares, buses, and shuttles converge. Traffic is constant. Visibility is high. With the World Cup approaching, expectations were even higher:
No visual disruption
No interference with passenger flow
No delays to a complex renovation
Traditional methods using painted plywood and framing created challenges. They required significant labor, generated waste, and lacked the clean, finished appearance needed for a highly visible environment. For this project, painted plywood was not an option.
The Solution: A Faster, More Flexible Approach
Swinerton deployed STARC’s RealWall™ to support a faster, more adaptable build. Compared to traditional methods, the temporary wall system enabled:
Installation in about one day instead of up to two weeks
Flexible layouts to match complex site geometry
Clean, professional surfaces that support signage and branding
Reusable panels that reduce material waste and disposal costs
RealWall also helped simplify the approval process for a new solution within a highly regulated airport environment, supported by proven performance in other major aviation projects.
Watch the SEA-TAC Renovation Walkthrough
The Results: Construction That Disappears
For Swinerton, success was defined by what passengers did not experience.
“People coming on and off the escalators don’t even realize they’re right next to a job site,” said Colin Reed, Senior Project Manager at Swinerton. “It’s just a seamless look, and it feels non-disruptive.”
Passengers moved through the space without hesitation or confusion. The renovation stayed out of sight and out of mind. At the same time, the team improved project execution:
Faster setup and teardown saved valuable time at both the start and end of the project
Reduced disposal costs by eliminating single-use materials
Greater flexibility across phases as layouts evolved
“What our project originally called for would have taken probably two weeks… we were able to get it up in a day,” Reed said.
People coming on and off the escalators don’t even realize they’re right next to a job site, it’s just a seamless look, and it feels non-disruptive.
Colin Reed, Senior Project Manager, Swinerton
Beyond One Project: A Smarter Standard
This project reflects a broader shift in how Swinerton approaches construction in active environments. The team continues to invest in reusable temporary wall systems and expand their internal inventory, allowing them to deploy STARC across aviation, healthcare, and hospitality projects where maintaining operations is critical.
“If you’re committed to long-term use of this system on your projects, it will more than pay for itself in the long run… in the value and the reputation that you have,” Reed said. By prioritizing speed, flexibility, and a clean jobsite, Swinerton is building consistency across projects while reinforcing the quality of their work.
Built for a World-Class Moment
As Seattle prepares to host a global audience, projects like the Ground Transportation Booth renovation play an important role in shaping first impressions.
By keeping construction out of sight, Swinerton delivered a solution that supports a seamless passenger experience.
Efficient. Professional. Undisrupted.
Exactly what a world-class airport demands.
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Find out how STARC’s temporary construction wall systems can up your containment game. Contact us today to learn more!
