Paul Strege of Mead & Hunt; John Reed of Rochester International Airport; and Ty Sander, a Great Lakes Chapter of AAAE Board Member.
Rochester International Airport (RST) earned the “Commercial Airport Project of the Year” award from the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (GLC-AAAE) for its recent, significant upgrade to the airport’s all-weather landing systems. The award was presented on July 26 to RST Executive Director John Reed at the GLC-AAAE Annual Conference in Moline, Illinois.
The recognition celebrates RST’s multi-year effort to implement a Category II Instrument Landing System (CAT II ILS) — a complex and rarely installed system that significantly enhances the airport’s all-weather accessibility. The system allows aircraft to land safely in visibility as low as 1,200 feet horizontally and 100 feet vertically, reducing weather-related delays and diversions that impact travelers, cargo and critical services like those provided by Mayo Clinic.
“This award is especially meaningful because it comes from our peers,” said Reed, noting that other AAAE airport executives selected the winning project. “It’s a testament to the persistence, collaboration and technical excellence of the entire project team. We’re proud to deliver a system that improves reliability for our travelers, supports Mayo Clinic’s life-saving mission, and makes RST a more accessible and resilient hub.”
Before this project, RST relied on a decades-old CAT I system that limited aircraft operations in poor weather. The upgrade was implemented in two phases beginning in 2018 and completed in June 2024. The project included replacing outdated equipment, adding an ALSF-2 High Intensity Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights, and constructing a 1,600-square-foot equipment shelter to house backup power and support systems.
John Reed, Rochester International Airport
RST’s CAT II ILS installation improves reliability not just for commercial flights, but for life-critical air cargo deliveries that support Mayo Clinic. Before the upgrade, poor visibility often caused diversions of medical testing samples — sometimes resulting in spoilage, repeat testing and treatment delays. The new system reduces diversions and supports more consistent operations that benefit patients, providers and the broader community.
The project was made possible through a coordinated partnership among many organizations. RST extends special thanks to:
- Mead & Hunt – Project design and coordination
- Mathiowetz Construction – General contractor
- Neo Electrical Solutions – Electrical subcontractor
- Minnesota Department of Transportation – Aeronautics – Project investment
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – Technical oversight and adoption
“From initial concept to final completion, the Runway 31 Approach Improvements project at Rochester International Airport spanned 12 years,” said Matt Wagner, Senior Aviation Project Manager at Mead & Hunt. “Witnessing the complex project’s successful completion has been especially gratifying, given the extensive coordination involved throughout its planning, design, and construction phases.”
This marks RST’s second major recognition from GLC-AAAE, following its 2019 “Commercial Airport Architecture” award for the U.S. Customs facility buildout. Learn more about the project and its impact here.
Matt Wagner, Mead & Hunt
