Kenton County Airport Board
Aviation
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
CVG Terminal Modernization
The Kenton County Airport Board needed more than a project manager. They needed a program partner who could protect operations while executing a full-scale rebuild.
RED BRICK stepped in to lead from the inside—coordinating complex upgrades across nearly every part of the passenger experience, without disrupting the flow of people, planes, or politics.
How do we completely modernize the airport—without disrupting the people, systems, and revenue streams that keep it running?
The $800 million Elevate CVG Program was designed to solve that. But execution required more than technical expertise. It demanded day-to-day coordination, relentless stakeholder alignment, and smart, steady leadership.
Unique Challenges faced by CVG
From the moment we stepped in, RED BRICK was tasked with keeping CVG’s modernization program on track—and its operations unshaken.
- We didn’t just track schedules.
- We didn’t just facilitate meetings.
- We owned the outcomes.
Terminal upgrades in a live, high-traffic airport
SOLUTION: Phased construction strategies with active system protection and disruption avoidance
TSA/CBP coordination during system changes
SOLUTION: Full ORAT (Operational Readiness and Transfer) planning + compliance assurance
Stakeholder misalignment across agencies, vendors, and airlines
SOLUTION: Embedded leadership + real-time communication loop across all tiers
Cost creep, schedule lag, and scope confusion
SOLUTION: Integrated project controls, risk tracking, and proactive change management
Maintaining passenger experience during construction
SOLUTION: Oversight of signage, wayfinding, vertical circulation, and traveler flow strategies
Key Upgrades We’re Leading
We’re guiding CVG through the execution of 10+ critical modernization projects—all tied to passenger experience, federal readiness, and long-term capacity planning:
Baggage Handling System (BHS)
- Replaced legacy system with new Individual Carrier System
- Rerouted baggage claim carousels, updated fire, HVAC, and power systems
- Integrated new TSA screening spaces and added inputs for ticketing and oversize bags
Check-In & Ticketing Expansion
- Extended ticketing hall for smoother queuing and passenger flow
- Relocated and modernized airline offices and counters
Security Screening (SSCP) Capacity Increase
- Expanded capacity to 16 automated lanes
- Removed escalators, rebuilt vertical circulation, and restructured access flow
FIS (Federal Inspection Services) Upgrades
- Modified systems and baggage claim devices for improved international arrivals
- Maintained CBP alignment through phased transition
Concourse A & B Modernization
- New floors, seating, ceilings, lighting, HVAC, gate millwork, food court refresh
- Upgraded signage, fire protection, paint, and vertical transportation systems
Tunnel + Terminal Circulation Improvements
- Terrazzo flooring, lighting, security systems, ceiling finishes, signage infrastructure
- Added elevators/escalators for redundancy and ADA access
Outcomes Delivered (and still being delivered)
- Zero unexpected disruptions to passenger throughput during terminal upgrades
- On-track execution of TSA-aligned screening and baggage transitions
- Improved operational readiness through ORAT-led phased implementation
- Clear decision-making paths for CVG leadership and airline stakeholders
- Modernized infrastructure without compromising traveler experience
Why Red Brick?
- We anticipate risks before they reach the runway.
- We unify stakeholders who speak different operational languages.
- And we deliver results that stand up under public, political, and operational scrutiny.
