Owner: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Location: Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas
Program Value: ~$230M
Facility Type: Airport Utility Infrastructure / Central Utility Plant Support
APR Services: Aviation Cost Estimating, Analytics and Controls, Scheduling

The Supplemental Central Utility Plant (SCUP) project is a major infrastructure initiative at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport designed to expand heating and cooling capacity, improve system resiliency, and support long-term terminal development.

The program includes the construction of a new electric-based central utility facility integrated with the existing Central Utility Plant (CUP), along with distribution system extensions, utility tunnel connections, and campus-wide infrastructure upgrades. The project also includes transition from an existing steam-based heating system to a high-efficiency hot water distribution system, improving overall system performance and long-term maintainability.

A key driver of the project is DFW’s broader sustainability strategy. The existing CUP relies heavily on natural gas for terminal heating, which represents a significant portion of the airport’s emissions profile. The SCUP program supports a transition toward electrified heating and cooling systems, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving overall energy efficiency. This transition is intended to lower carbon emissions, reduce air pollutant output, and decrease water consumption associated with legacy systems.

In addition to sustainability objectives, the project supports future terminal expansion, with infrastructure sized to accommodate increased passenger capacity and additional gate development. The system is designed with redundancy and resiliency (N+1 configuration) to maintain reliable operations within a continuous-use airport environment.

The project requires complex phasing and integration within active airport operations, including coordination with existing utility systems, ongoing capital programs, and multiple stakeholders. Implementation must maintain uninterrupted service while transitioning critical infrastructure systems and supporting long-term operational and environmental goals.

Key systems include:

  • Heating and cooling generation and distribution systems
  • Electrical infrastructure and major service upgrades
  • Boiler systems with jet fuel backup supply
  • Thermal energy storage (TES) integration and controls
  • Utility tunnel modifications and connections
  • Fuel systems, including jet fuel storage and pumping systems
  • Stormwater, plumbing, and site utilities
  • Architectural and structural support facilities
  • Environmental scope including asbestos abatement

The facility is designed to supplement existing plant capacity while maintaining uninterrupted airport operations, requiring complex phasing, integration with active systems, and coordination across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

APR provided estimating, change order management, and cost validation services in support of the SCUP/eCUP program.

Services included:

  • Independent cost estimates for RFEs, PCOs, ASIs, and design changes
  • Detailed pricing across all major trades and infrastructure systems
  • Evaluation of design revisions, field conditions, and coordination impacts
  • Cost reconciliation and validation to support budget alignment and negotiations
  • Integration of cost data with program controls and decision-making processes

APR’s approach leveraged DFW-specific estimating tools, historical cost data, and structured validation processes to ensure transparency and accuracy across all phases of the project.

  • Supported high-volume change management across a complex infrastructure program
  • Delivered accurate, defensible cost validation across multiple disciplines
  • Improved cost transparency and alignment between design and construction teams
  • Enabled informed decision-making through structured estimate reconciliation
  • Supported budget control and risk management on a critical airport utility program
  • Contributed to maintaining operational continuity during major infrastructure upgrades

Zero Carbon eCUP
Image Credit: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

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