People Spotlight: Meet Clint Laaser
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting a leader from our aviation business who will share insight into his career journey and perspective on aviation architecture.
Clint Laaser brings a proven track record of over 20 years in the industry, most recently serving as global aviation planning and strategic advisory lead. In his new role as U.S. aviation architecture lead, Clint is dedicated to growing our aviation architecture and building engineering practice and serving clients across the United States. With a background spanning architecture, terminal planning and advisory, Clint brings a unique ability to connect planning, design and stakeholder collaboration to deliver impactful airport projects.
What inspired you to join the industry?
My love for buildings and planning started when I was young, and I always knew I wanted to go to architecture school. Upon graduation I worked on a variety of residential, commercial and transportation projects, but I realized it was the large public facilities and the dynamics that go into them that fueled my passion.
I remain motivated by bringing people together, connecting ideas and shaping environments that serve the public.
That realization led me to my first aviation project: a new airport terminal in Wichita, Kansas. I was deeply involved from the first stages of master planning through design and ribbon cutting. I’m grateful for that experience because it allowed me to work closely with a client throughout the full project lifecycle.
I discovered that I really enjoy the upfront planning and consensus-building stages of the design process. I remain motivated by bringing people together, connecting ideas and shaping environments that serve the public.
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
Elevate CVG is a design-build program at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport led by AECOM Hunt that brings together multiple AECOM business lines — including Transportation and Buildings + Places — to create a cohesive vision. The program includes renovations to the terminal, concourses and a pedestrian tunnel. It’s a large, complex effort involving significant collaboration.
The Elevate CVG program reflects my favorite parts of aviation work: storytelling, consensus building and connecting people to deliver a strong outcome.
My role involved shaping the pursuit strategy and I’m continuing to support the project through delivery. I’ve contributed to the planning and design, aligning teams and adapting the design as project leadership and priorities evolved.
This program reflects my favorite parts of aviation work: storytelling, consensus building and connecting people to deliver a strong outcome.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
Positive community impacts start with understanding your client and the people they serve. You need to learn what’s important to them and approach the project as a local — even if you’re not.
Airports are gateways to their communities, so designs should reflect their culture, history and identity. We’ve accomplished this across projects of all sizes — from Boston Logan Terminal E, where the layout and signature “Boston Red” roof reflect the city’s spirit of innovation, to the North Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which draws on the Pacific Northwest through warm wood, natural light and river-inspired forms. At Presque Isle International Airport in Maine, a simpler design uses regional materials and familiar building forms to create a strong local connection.
Each of these projects demonstrates how a sense of place can be thoughtfully scaled to reflect the communities they represent.
Airports are gateways to their communities, so designs should reflect their culture, history and identity.
Share a piece of career advice.
When you have a chance to try a different role, project or area of focus, take the leap! Stretching yourself is where you learn the most, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
It’s also important to build relationships along the way. You never know who you’ll work with in the future or how those connections will shape your career.
If you stay open, curious, grounded and above all genuine, opportunities tend to come together in meaningful ways.