Reagan National Airport – TSA Baggage Testing Facility

Arlington, Virginia


Quick Facts: 

Client: Vic Thompson Company

Market: Public/Civic

Size: 45,000 gsf

Services: Architecture, Interiors

Photographer: Jessica Marcotte

The Transportation Security Administration’s new 25.5 million Transportation System Integration Facility (TSIF) is a unique state-of-the-art facility allowing for the installation and testing of new technologies in baggage handling and safety in a full-size, real world environment.

The existing two-story, 128,000-sf facility, located at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, was previously used as a mail sorting center and acquired by the TSA from the United States Post Office under a ten-year lease.

TSIF’s first floor features a full-size in-line baggage screening system, complete with multiple explosive detection systems and alarm resolution areas. Adjacent to the in-line system is a room dedicated to cargo testing – both air cargo as well as maritime, rail and other land-based cargo testing.

The upstairs is dominated by passenger screening and contains a full-size checkpoint that includes advanced technology x-ray equipment, explosive detection screening, and whole body imaging machines.

The project was completed on time and on budget using a design/build format.