Case StudySecuring a rebuilt terminal at Princess Juliana International Airport

37 custom side-folding doors and roll-up shutters for the hurricane-resilient reconstruction of St. Maarten’s international airport.

Industry: Airport Security Closure Options
Product: Side Folding Security Doors

OverviewRebuilding after two Category 5 hurricanes

The Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten initiated a reconstruction project after two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes in late 2017. The storms caused significant damage, rendering the terminal building inoperable and forcing the airport to provide limited services from temporary facilities for several years.

The need for a modern, resilient building capable of withstanding future weather events was immediately apparent.

Dynamic Closures played an integral role in the reconstruction of the terminal building, providing numerous custom-designed side-folding doors and roll-up shutters used to secure areas in the Arrivals and Departures areas. A small team from Dynamic traveled to St. Maarten twice throughout the multi-year project for installation.

Custom doors designed, delivered and installed

50%

Visibility through the perforated panels

90%

Of the Departures doors installed within one week

The airport was looking for a solution that would allow tenants to secure their shops without compromising the airport’s unique design.
Jack Roy
VP of Sales and Marketing, Dynamic Closures

The challengeUnderstanding the problem

Dynamic Closures’ scope of work included designing, manufacturing, and ensuring the proper installation of custom airport security doors. Six constraints shaped every decision that followed.

Schedule

Time and Operational Constraints

The airport was scheduled to remain operational during the renovation, demanding that all parties carefully coordinate, communicate consistently, and adapt as project timelines shifted to ensure the doors were installed on schedule.

Design

Unique Design Aesthetics

The airport’s new design featured flowing curves and patterns to create a sense of movement, found in everything from the storefronts to the terrazzo floors. The new doors would require significant customization to match the curved storefronts and the architect’s vision.

Security

Security with Visual Access

The new closures were expected to provide a physical barrier to prevent unauthorized access as well as visual transparency, so that security personnel could have clear lines of sight within the retail spaces.

Logistics

Logistical Complexities

The remote location of the airport required extra time to account for shipping, and constant communication among all parties was needed to manage international logistics.

People

Cultural Diversity

The project involved teams from various countries, each with distinct cultures and languages.

Environment

Environmental Considerations

St. Maarten’s saltwater climate required that the materials used to construct the doors be corrosion-resistant.

CollaborationMany stakeholders, one vision

Successful completion of the project relied on effective collaboration with many stakeholders. Dynamic Closures worked closely with project managers, architects, steel contractors and installation crews.

Each group brought its own drawings, schedules and priorities. Keeping them aligned across borders, languages and a live airport was as much a part of the job as the doors themselves.

Oversight

Project Managers

A project management firm oversaw the airport’s reconstruction, maintaining constant contact with all parties and providing updates on the latest project timelines, logistical requirements, and on-site conditions.

Design

Architects

Architects established the airport’s overall aesthetic of curving lines and flowing patterns, including terrazzo floors with distinct color patterns. Dynamic Closures worked closely with them to design doors that would accommodate the curved storefronts.

Structure

Steel Contractors

Structural steel contractors, responsible for fabricating and installing the steel columns that formed the storefronts, gave Dynamic Closures access to their CAD drawings to ensure accurate alignment and installation of the new doors.

On site

Installation Crews

Dynamic Closures worked alongside local crews from multiple countries and collaborated with different teams during each phase of the project.

The solutionCustom-designed side-folding and roll-up doors

Side-Folding

Lift Ready

Dynamic Closures designed, delivered and oversaw the installation of 37 custom doors tailored to meet the airport’s security and aesthetic requirements. A combination of Slimline side-folding doors and Lift-Ready overhead models provided the ideal solution.

Visibility

Perforated Panels

All doors were constructed using perforated aluminum panels. The Slimline Paravent and Lift Ready Ventana models offered a physical barrier while allowing 50% visibility and plenty of airflow, so security personnel could easily monitor the retail spaces.

Durability

Corrosion Resistant Aluminum

Anodized aluminum addressed the challenges of a humid, saltwater environment, providing inherent corrosion resistance so the doors maintain their appearance and functionality over time without extensive maintenance.

Customization

Custom Curved Enclosures

Dynamic Closures’ ability to custom bend side-closing security doors allowed the enclosures to integrate perfectly into the flowing lines of the overall design.

Space

Space Optimization

The narrow profile and compact stack of the Slimline Paravent doors minimized the required pocket size, opening up valuable floor space for additional revenue-generating displays and a more comfortable environment for visitors.

Security

Secure Locking Mechanisms

Each door was equipped with key-operated locks for additional security.

Product mix

Two Complementary Product Lines

Slimline Paravent side-folding doors and Lift-Ready Ventana overhead models were combined so each opening received the closure best suited to its storefront.

Our SlimLine doors offer a sleek, discreet profile that architects love. The smaller pocket size maximizes usable square footage without sacrificing performance.
Jack Roy
VP of Sales and Marketing, Dynamic Closures

Our in-house customization capabilities set us apart; we can bend the door track to any radius. This is a process that often adds significant lead time for our competitors.
Jack Roy
VP of Sales and Marketing, Dynamic Closures

The processFrom design to installation

The multi-year reconstruction of the international airport terminal, spanning 2021 to 2024, faced many shifting timelines and evolving requirements. The complexity of a large-scale endeavor such as this extended to every aspect of the project, including the security doors provided by Dynamic Closures.

Step 1

Design

Dynamic worked closely with the architects and the project managers to align the door specifications with the airport’s functional, aesthetic, and security needs. Numerous design reviews and revisions helped mitigate issues during the manufacturing and installation stages.

Step 2

Manufacturing

After all designs were approved, Dynamic proceeded with manufacturing and custom enhancements, including bending the door tracks to match each curved storefront.

Step 3

Shipment

The doors were packaged and shipped to St. Maarten via cargo container. Each package was labeled by room number according to the architectural plans, which simplified unloading and distribution on arrival.

Step 4

Departures Installation (Phase 1)

A two-person team from Dynamic Closures spent a week in St. Maarten overseeing the installation of 26 doors, many of them side-folding, alongside a local crew of approximately twelve people. By the end of the week, approximately 90% of the Departures doors were installed.

Step 5

Arrivals Installation (Phase 2)

Less than a year later, Dynamic returned to oversee the installation of the remaining eleven doors in the Arrivals area, and revisited Departures to confirm the previously installed doors were operating smoothly, making minor adjustments as needed.

On siteOn the ground in St. Maarten

Communication was initially a challenge due to the multinational crew, but the combined teams overcame this using Google Translate and visual aids. Many new crew members had joined by the second visit, introducing additional cultural nuances to navigate.

With the Departures doors in place, tenants had secure, worry-free access to their spaces to complete interior work. Before leaving, Jack and his colleagues trained the airport’s project managers and staff so they could handle future maintenance and adjustments.

Proven resultsSecurity, space and design, delivered

The installation of 37 custom Dynamic Closures security doors at Princess Juliana International Airport delivered all objectives: enhanced security, optimized space utilization, and a visually stunning design built from durable, corrosion-resistant materials.

The success of this project demonstrates Dynamic Closures’ ability to deliver high-quality solutions through innovation, collaboration and a customer-centric approach. It also highlights Dynamic’s unique in-house capabilities to powder-coat enclosures and custom bend side-folding door tracks to any radius. These services ensure projects meet specifications without the added time and cost of third-party involvement.

ApplicationsAdaptable across industries

Talk to our team

Whether you’re interested in optimizing security, maximizing space, or ensuring a seamless aesthetic fit, Dynamic’s expert team will work with you to design security doors, grilles and shutters that meet the exact needs of your project. Our solutions are highly adaptable and can be customized for various industries across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Retail

Retail storefronts and kiosks

Side-folding grilles and shutters that close off shopping mall storefronts and open kiosks after hours.

Learn more

Finance

Financial institutions

Discreet closures for bank branches, teller lines and lobby areas.

Learn more

Venues

Sports stadiums

Concession, merchandise and concourse closures built for high traffic and quick turnaround.

Education