HDR Selected to Lead Program Management Services for Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport
•February 16, 2026
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Why It Matters
The contract equips Blue Grass Airport with a unified delivery model that can accelerate critical upgrades, enhancing passenger experience and supporting the region’s economic development.
Key Takeaways
- •HDR wins multiyear program management contract for LEX.
- •Projects include terminal, access, GA, and safety upgrades.
- •HDR will integrate design, construction, and commissioning services.
- •Partnership builds on 40+ years of local collaboration.
- •Enhancements aim to boost regional connectivity and growth.
Pulse Analysis
Blue Grass Airport, like many midsize U.S. hubs, faces mounting pressure to modernize its facilities while maintaining uninterrupted operations. Decades of incremental upgrades have left a patchwork of legacy systems that can hinder efficiency and passenger flow. By appointing HDR as the program manager, the airport board is adopting a strategic, long‑term framework that aligns individual projects with a cohesive master plan, ensuring that each investment delivers measurable performance gains and future‑proofs the airfield against evolving aviation standards.
HDR’s value proposition lies in its integrated delivery model, which blends advisory services, design oversight, construction management, and commissioning under a single umbrella. This approach reduces hand‑off friction, streamlines decision‑making, and enables real‑time cost‑effectiveness assessments. Leveraging its century‑old engineering pedigree and a four‑decade relationship with the airport, HDR can anticipate operational challenges, coordinate stakeholder input, and apply best‑in‑class aviation expertise to complex tasks such as terminal reconfiguration and airfield safety enhancements.
The broader economic implications are significant. Upgraded terminals and improved landside access are expected to attract additional airlines and increase passenger volumes, directly feeding tourism, business travel, and cargo activity in Central Kentucky. Moreover, the focus on general‑aviation growth supports local flight schools and corporate aviation, further diversifying the airport’s revenue base. As the program unfolds, the region stands to benefit from job creation, heightened connectivity, and a stronger competitive position within the national airport network.
HDR Selected to Lead Program Management Services for Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport
HDR has been selected by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board to provide program management services for Blue Grass Airport’s next decade of capital improvements. This milestone sets the stage for transformative enhancements that will strengthen connectivity, improve passenger experience, and support Central Kentucky’s economic growth.
The multiyear program will advance critical projects identified in the airport’s master plan, including terminal development, landside access improvements, general aviation growth, and airfield safety upgrades. HDR will serve as a strategic partner — guiding design, construction and operational readiness while maintaining the character and convenience that make Blue Grass Airport a valued community asset.
“Our team brings deep local roots and national expertise to this program,” said HDR Program Manager Mark Day, P.E., AAE. “For me, success means helping LEX deliver these improvements with confidence — keeping operations smooth, anticipating challenges, and freeing airport staff to focus on what they do best: serving passengers.”
Led by Day, HDR’s team will develop a comprehensive framework for the airport’s long-term growth, evaluating individual projects consistently for cost effectiveness and incorporation into the organization’s master plan. This program management approach emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, integrating advisory services, design oversight, construction management and commissioning into a unified delivery model. This latest contract extends HDR’s history with Blue Grass Airport, which stretches back more than 40 years.
“HDR’s tailored, one-size-fits-one approach is already in use on some of the most complex airport programs in the U.S.,” said HDR Aviation Director Bill Peduzzi. “I’m excited for what’s ahead in Lexington as our cross-discipline team applies its strategic and technical expertise to advance the airport’s strategic plans.”
About HDR
HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges. For more information, please visit www.hdrinc.com.
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