The $1.1 Billion RSW Expansion Is Being Built With AI. Here's What That Looks Like.

The massive expansion taking shape at Southwest Florida International Airport isn't just adding gates and passenger space; it's also becoming one of the first major construction projects in the country to put artificial intelligence directly on the jobsite.

Boston-based Suffolk Construction, the company leading work on RSW's new terminal expansion, has launched what it calls its "Jobsite of the Future" program at the airport. Instead of treating AI as software running behind the scenes, Suffolk has placed dedicated AI engineers alongside project managers, superintendents, and field crews to help solve problems in real time.

The project itself is one of the largest infrastructure investments in Southwest Florida history.

When complete, the expansion will include a new 14-gate Concourse E, a centralized 16-lane TSA security checkpoint, expanded baggage handling systems, additional concessions, and significantly more passenger space to accommodate the region's continued growth. Construction is expected to continue through late 2027.

So What Does the AI Actually Do?

Despite the name, AI isn't replacing construction workers.

Instead, Suffolk says its AI engineers work alongside field teams to automate time-consuming administrative tasks and identify potential issues before they become expensive problems.

The technology is being used to:

  • Review construction drawings for conflicts before work begins.

  • Help coordinate schedules and subcontractors.

  • Track procurement and material deliveries.

  • Document jobsite conditions using computer vision.

  • Reduce paperwork and repetitive administrative work so project teams can focus on construction itself.

According to the company, some scheduling processes that once took several days can now be completed in just a few hours using AI-assisted tools.

A Growing Investment in AI

Suffolk says it has spent more than $100 million over the past decade developing data, technology, and AI capabilities for its projects.

The company also employs a dedicated team of AI engineers whose sole responsibility is developing new construction tools and deploying them to projects around the country. The Southwest Florida airport expansion is among the first projects selected for the program.

Why It Matters for Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida continues to experience rapid population growth, placing increasing pressure on airports, roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure.

For RSW, the expansion is designed to improve passenger flow, reduce congestion, and create additional space for future airline growth while modernizing one of Florida's busiest airports.

Whether AI ultimately becomes standard practice across the construction industry remains to be seen. But for now, one of the country's most closely watched experiments in AI-powered construction is happening just up the road from Naples.

Sources: Information compiled from the Business Observer and the Lee County Port Authority.