Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6g
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
February 11, 2020
DATE: January 13, 2020
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Julie Collins, Director Customer Experience & Brand Strategy
Heather Karch, Aviation Facilities and Infrastructure Manager – Architecture
Mandy Xiggores, Capital Programs Development Manager
SUBJECT: Meditation & Sensory Rooms (C801148)
Amount of this request:
$1,000,000
Total estimated project cost:
$1,000,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission single project authorization for the Executive Director to proceed with (1)
design and construction of the Meditation and Sensory Rooms project at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport and (2) use Port crews to complete the work. The amount requested
under this authorization is $1,000,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project will convert a post-security airline training room in the South Main Satellite Train
Station (STS), below Concourse A, and convert it into two rooms with a small entry vestibule.
One room will be a relocated Meditation Room and the other will be a new Sensory Room.
The current Meditation Room is a multi-faith room located pre-security on the Main Terminal
Mezzanine that offers Sea-Tac Airport passengers and employees a quiet retreat for prayer and
meditation. Relocation is required because the Employee Services Center project will displace
the Meditation Room in Q4 2020. Additionally, a post-security meditation space has been
requested by both passengers and employees.
The new Sensory Room is a quiet area intended for passengers with neurological or
developmental disabilities such as sensory processing disorders or autism spectrum disorder. It
will provide a restorative or preventive environment during the travel experience to help make
flying less stressful for passengers with sensory disorders.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6g_ Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
JUSTIFICATION
Meditation Room
As an international airport, supporting a global community, it is critical that Sea-Tac provides
high-quality amenities for all our passengers. In the last five years Muslim, Buddhist, Christian,
and Jewish leaders spoke unanimously in favor of a Meditation Room at Sea-Tac. The need was
particularly acute for practicing Muslims, who according to their tradition, are expected to pray
five times a day. Without a dedicated space many are left looking around the airport terminal
for an appropriate place to pray.
The Meditation Room provide the airport community an inclusive facility that provides a
peaceful place for meditation, worship, general reflection, and quiet time for the traveling
public and the airport community.
Sensory Room
Sensory Rooms are increasingly in demand in public spaces, specifically in overwhelming places
like stadiums and airports. These spaces give people with autism and their families a convenient
space, away from other people, to take a break from the commotion. We will create a
specialized environment that passengers can interact with to help calm, prepare, or recover
during the air travel experience through the use of specialized lighting, furniture, and materials.
The Port of Seattle is dedicated to the goal of making Sea-Tac Airport the most accessible
airport in the USA, and the addition of a Sensory Room to Sea-Tac will help address the needs
of passengers with sensory disorders or autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, the Open
Doors Organization (ODO) Report listed the creation of a “quiet room” as a primary
recommendation to be completed within two years. The ODO report included an optional
recommendation based on a stakeholder suggestion to repurpose some Mamava units into
“quiet rooms”.
The number of people diagnosed with either autism spectrum disorder or sensory disorders is
increasing. In 2018 CDC estimates were that 1 in 59 children were diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder and the number of people with sensory issues is increasing. Airports can be
overwhelming for the average passenger and are especially challenging for passengers with
additional sensitivities with the combination of unfamiliar processes with new people, large
crowds, and loud announcements. Designated calm spaces can make air travel less daunting for
all.
DIVERSITY IN CONTRACTING
The project will be utilizing an existing IDIQ contract for design. The project manager will work
with the Diversity in Contracting Department to determine participation opportunities and set
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6g_ Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
goals for women and minority business enterprises (WMBE) attainment during construction.
These affirmative efforts are in accordance with the Policy Directive on Diversity in Contracting.
DETAILS
Scope of Work
Meditation Room: This project will provide an accessible, enclosed space for Meditation. The
room should be quiet and have furnishings and aesthetic treatments that would accommodate
people in prayer.
Sensory Room: The Sensory Room will provide an accessible, enclosed space and should
include; gliding chair, soft seating, resilient flooring surface with durable finish, tactile wall with
multiple textures and/or colors. As part of the design we will request stakeholder feedback
from local autism organizations such as ARC of King County and/or an Occupational Therapist
with a Sensory Integration Certification or comparable training to provide room requirements
and design review.
Infrastructure Changes/Upgrades: To accommodate these new functions there will need to be
changes made to the HVAC system, Lighting Controls and the Sprinkler System. Additionally, the
project will provide signage and appropriate security camera coverage.
Relocate Training Room: This project will also relocate the Airline Training Room functions that
are in the Port Conference room to a designated space pre-security on the Mezzanine Level.
This will require the relocation of furniture, equipment, whiteboards and a projector.
Schedule
Activity
2020 Quarter 1
2020 Quarter 1
2020 Quarter 3
2020 Quarter 4
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Design Phase
$324,000
$324,000
Construction Phase
$676,000
$676,000
Total
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6g_ Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Find another space(s) post security for the meditation room function or a
modular solution with a small footprint, comparable to a Mamava. Do not incorporate a
Sensory Room
Cost Implications: Capital $0 | Expense $7,000/unit
Pros:
(1) The Port of Seattle could offer more locations for meditation and prayer throughout
the terminal.
(2) A smaller footprint that is potentially relocatable.
Cons:
(1) Pods would likely take up space that may be more commercially valuable.
(2) Siting would be difficult in our space constrained terminal.
(3) Would not offer enough space for more than one individual, unless custom
built/ordered.
(4) Does not incorporate a Sensory Room.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – No longer offer the Meditation Room as a Passenger Amenity. Do not
incorporate a Sensory Room.
Cost Implications: Capital $0 | Expense $0
Pros:
(1) No capital cost associated with this alternative.
(2) Eliminates a critical path item from the Employee Service Center project.
Cons:
(1) The Meditation Room is an important amenity to the religious community. No longer
offering it would be doing a disservice to this group of passengers and employees.
(2) The Port has committed to the Commission that we will continue to provide this
service.
(3) Does not provide the opportunity to incorporate a Sensory Room.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 3 – Convert an existing Port conference room, post security, into two spaces; a
relocated Meditation Room and a Sensory Room
Cost Implications: Capital $1,000,000 | Expense $0
Pros:
(1) Meditation Room will be post security and easier for the traveling public to access.
(2) Meditation Room will be a purpose-built space that will incorporate design and
infrastructure elements requested by members of the Religious Community.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6g_ Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(3) The Sensory Space will be the first room of its kind at Sea-Tac Airport and will help an
underserved group of our community, passengers with sensory disorders or autism
spectrum disorder.
Cons:
(1) The selected location will not allow for the integration of water for a foot washing
station, a request by the Religious Community.
(2) This relocated the Airline Training Room and Meditation Room will have less square
footage than current spaces.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$1,000,000
$0
$1,000,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
0
0
Current request for authorization
$1,000,000
0
$1,000,000
Total authorizations, including this request
$1,000,000
0
$1,000,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$0
$0
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project, CIP C801148, was not included in the 2020-2021 capital budget and plan of
finance. A budget $1,000,000 was transferred from the Aeronautical Reserve CIP (C800753)
resulting in zero net change to the Aviation capital budget. The funding source will be the
Airport Development Fund (ADF).
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
$1,000,000
Business Unit (BU)
Terminal Building
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of
capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base.
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
Less than $0.01 in 2021
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6g_ Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
May 20, 2019 – The Commission approved Design Authorization for the Employee Services
Center (C800934)
October 22, 2019 – The Commission was briefed on Accessibility Improvements at Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport.