Airports are leading the global shift toward sustainable infrastructure. This session explores an integrated, data-driven approach to designing net zero airport terminals – told from the owner’s perspective – featuring the new Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) terminal opening in 2027. HOK and MRY will share how program optimization, passive load reduction, a mass timber structure and high-performance MEP systems created a zero net energy ready, all-electric terminal that balances environmental performance, cost and design excellence. The presentation highlights lessons learned from design through procurement, demonstrating how smaller regional airports can become scalable, regenerative models for carbon-neutral aviation and resilient, community-centered infrastructure.

• Understand the unique challenges of achieving net zero operational and embodied carbon, including scale, complexity and stakeholder engagement
• How integrated design strategies across programming, structural, envelope, MEP systems and material selection can collectively reduce total carbon
• Explore how smaller regional airports can serve as scalable models for regenerative, carbon-neutral design
• Gain insight into collaborative design processes that align environmental performance, functionality and sense of place