The Chicago Department of Aviation announced the opening of the new $55 million consolidated rental car facility at Chicago’s Midway Airport. The building replaces several rental car facilities and lots in and around Midway and consolidates eight rental car companies under one roof.

The facility includes a customer service center, a five-level garage for more than 1,800 vehicles, and a facility where the vehicles can be fueled and washed. The overall operation allows for some 200 ready cars and 275 return cars to be located on two levels along with additional storage of vehicles on Level 5 of the new structure.

The structure also features many “green” amenities, including solar panels and wind turbines to generate power, a green roof, a detention basin to manage stormwater and equipment to collect rainwater for irrigation. Shuttle buses, powered by bio-diesel fuel will take people from the terminal to the facility.

The project was also awarded with two Chicago Department of Aviation’s Sustainable Airport Manual GREEN AIRPLANE CERTIFICATIONS for Design and Construction and is currently pursuing LEED Silver Certification.

Primera provided architectural planning and design, electrical design, mechanical design and plumbing design for Enterprise Holdings, Inc. for tenant improvements for their three rental car brands within the garage: Enterprise, Alamo and National.

For more information about how Primera can assist with your next Aviation-related project please contact John Antonoglu at jantonoglu@primeraeng.com.