Multiple contractors pitch in for Midfield Terminal

The project comprises 130,000 square feet of public space and another 100,000 square feet of support space.

The foundation of the building is complete, according to Kent Boyd, airport communications and marketing director, and crews are preparing to pour the basement floor.

“The earthwork is done, the foundation is done, (and) the parking lots are substantially complete,” Boyd said. “That leaves the building and taxiways to the building, and the concrete ramp for the planes to pull up to the building.”

Director of Aviation Gary Cyr said the facility is still on pace to meet its Dec. 1, 2008, target completion date, though there is flexibility in the schedule.

“We don’t have a drop-dead date that we have to move,” Cyr said. “We’re not going to do this three days before Christmas. We want to make sure all the systems and components are triple-checked, because once we move, we want to minimize issues.”

Amenities

Airport projects that already are completed or under way account for $90 million of the $119 million project total, Cyr said, including $60 million for the terminal building, $11 million for taxiways and ramps, $8 million for parking lots and interior roadways, $2 million for the building foundation and about $8 million for drainage, grading and preliminary site work.

The remaining money is marked for security, signage, information technology systems and building infill. Existing runways will be used; none are to be added under current plans.

The main feature of the new terminal, Cyr said, is customer convenience. Everything is on one level, eliminating the need for escalators and elevators, and security screening will be handled via one checkpoint with multiple lanes, rather than the current system of two separate checkpoints.

“We’ll have in-line baggage screening systems, while a lot of other airports our size still use trace equipment, which is not as efficient,” Cyr said, noting that in-line systems screen baggage for dangerous items and explosives. “We’ll be ahead of a number of airports of equal size and stature.”

Challenges

The size and scope of the airport project presents unique challenges for builders, according to Lance Garrett, project manager with Walton Construction, the prime contractor for the terminal project. Among the differences: There is not one general contractor for the entire project, hence Walton’s use of the term “prime.”

“The way the aviation department has the job set up, it’s a multiple-prime project site, which means there is more than just Walton on site,” Garrett said.

McAninch Construction of Des Moines, Iowa, was hired for earth-moving work, while APAC-Missouri has done asphalt work and Springfield-based DeWitt & Associates built the foundation. Florida-based Reynold, Smith & Hills designed the project, and Colorado-based Carter & Burgess is working on the apron and taxiways.

“What Walton is doing is building the actual building – the perimeter of the building plus 75 feet,” Garrett said. “That makes it a unique job.”

While Garrett has worked on projects of similar scope before – he just finished work on a consolidated rental car facility at Kansas City International Airport – building an airport has its own challenges.

“There are (Federal Aviation Administration) guidelines and restrictions as it relates to crane heights and placement because we’re so close to runways,” Garrett said. “Those require special permits and approval from the FAA.”[[In-content Ad]]