2015 40 Under 40: Clint Laaser

Nov. 25, 2015

Clint Laaser: Builds the Passenger Experience

Project Manager/Terminal Planner

HNTB Corporation

Age: 35

Years in Aviation: 8

Did you know?

Laaser once missed a client meeting with an airline because that same airline cancelled his flight to get to the meeting!

Clint Laaser was always fascinated with airports as a child and the possibilities of where people were coming/going.  He got a chance to be part of that journey as an architect/planner, which he says gives him the opportunity to positively enhance the passenger’s journey and make the traveling experience memorable.  Early in his career, he also realized he liked the challenge of large, complex projects so aviation architecture and planning was a perfect fit! Today Laaser specializes in aviation architecture, and his experience includes terminal planning, architecture, programming, program management and stakeholder coordination. Laaser has been part of projects at Denver International Airport, where he was the terminal planner and on the program management team for the South Terminal Hotel and Transit Center; Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, where he acted as project architect for schematic design and construction administration for the 12-gate project; Los Angeles International Airport  where he was the terminal planner for its Midfield Satellite Concourse; Rapid City Regional where he acted as airport aviation advisor for financial planning and stakeholder coordination
for its Terminal/Concourse Renovation/Expansion; and Tampa International Airport where he served as terminal planner for its master plan development project. He also worked as the terminal planner and architect at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Tucson International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport, and San Antonio International Airport. In his role, Laaser sees that U.S. airport infrastructure is quickly becoming dated especially in comparison to some of its peers across the world.  He says balancing financial responsibility and still providing the traveling public adequate and safe facilities is difficult, but is something that must be done. Laaser is a LEED-accredited professional and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Kansas.