Johnson Controls secures dual airport security contract

SEATTLE - Johnson Controls is in the midst of upgrading the security system at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a $13.5 million project that taps into both the company’s product and installation expertise. Prior to press time, the project was 20 percent complete, with an expected finish date of April 2005. The job includes implementing a new biometric access control system for the airport’s 18,000 employees, installing 600 integrated cameras, 600 readers and 400 intercom points. Unlike the airport’s previous system, this project provides the airport with an integrated camera and access control security system, said Rod Cone, project development manager for Johnson Controls. “This is a fully integrated system,” said Cone. “The single best thing is that this level of integration can respond to any event.” Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Johnson Controls has seen its airport security business increase significantly. The company also recently won an award for the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, a $2.8 million contract that includes the installation and integration of a new access control system for 1,500 airport workers. “Most of the current airport security activity are security upgrades that were planned before 9/11; some may have been moved up in scheduling due to 9/11,” said Bill McGinty, project development engineer for Johnson Controls. “There are a lot of airports operating with systems that are 10 to 15 years (old) and are in need of modernization.” For the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport security project, Johnson Controls beat out four other companies for the bid - Siemens, ADT, Honeywell and NetVersant, according to Johnson Controls officials. The project is expected to keep 35 people busy full-time, including Johnson Controls’ employees and a sub-contractor, Valley Electric, an electrical company charged with installing conduit and pulling wiring. Company officials said the project could also lead to more security work in the future.