Airport improvements get a conceptual design

Parking beneath solar panels?

By Katherine Nettles

One thing is for certain: Officials agree the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport needs an overhaul to address modern security standards, to replace antiquated mechanical systems and to improve a key entry point to the valley. 

The question of how much to tackle and where to begin was largely answered in a full concept design review between Gunnison County commissioners, airport officials and architectural firm M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates during a work session on December 17, and the first priority is electrical and mechanical system replacements.

But there are other major terminal improvements to make, and there is not yet enough information about the project budget to determine a timeline or how much can take place in the first phase of the remodel.

The county signed an agreement with Gensler in September 2019 with the understanding that the firm could provide a schematic design with enough detail about the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to get cost information into the design at an early stage. Gensler architects estimated that their overall plan, if fully implemented, would cost between $15 million and $17 million to complete. Gensler has done aviation projects world-wide, including Denver International airport and Jackson Hole airport. The county has secured only $5,401,009 from pledged Federal Aviation Association (FAA) entitlements and discretionary funds, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) grants and a local share.

Gensler architect Adam Ambro said the improvements can be staggered to address the electric, mechanical and security issues at the airport first, and other phases can be flexible. “We’ve taken it a step further than what we think phase one will allow for,” said Ambro. “We asked ourselves, after the initial phase, are we leaving the airport in a condition where it doesn’t feel incomplete? This puts a nice bow on it, knowing there’s still more to come, but if that doesn’t come it’s not the end of the world either.”

Ambro and Gensler architect Casey Johnson walked the commissioners through the details of the full redesign, calling an overall humble theme and fiscally cautious approach. Ambro said the terminal has a solid foundation with a primary need to update the security and overall flow of the airport to better accommodate passengers and make a better first impression for travelers.

The plan begins with the airport entrance, improving the signage and parking  lot. The parking lot is designed to house a solar array on covered parking spaces that the city of Gunnison and Western Colorado University are hoping to pay for through an energy grant, for which they have applied together. News of that aspect’s approval or denial is expected by spring, and would not include funding for a new parking area surface. Snow storage is factored in, which Johnson said would be a major improvement over the current lack thereof.

Johnson described the new terminal entrance, which would consolidate four entryways into just two “more intuitive” ones and add some simple landscaping and more modern façade features at the front edge of the building.

“There is a sense of pride with the entrance,” said Ambro. ”But the terminal comes first.”

The terminal will create a new passenger flow, expanding security and moving it out of the holding rooms to allow lines to stretch out in a linear path. “We are not proposing to do a whole lot with the existing ticketing hall, we just wanted to make it smarter. So we … got rid of the cross-passenger flow that is happening there now,” said Johnson.

“This will replace the ‘check your own bag and put it in a hole in the wall,’” said Ambro, in favor of a more traditional process.

The electrical room will be moved away from the bathrooms, and rental car offices will at a later phase move to what would be a small new addition. The ticketing hall would then have more elbowroom for pre-security concessions, if desired. Ground service equipment (and associated diesel fumes) will move from behind ticketing to a separate facility on site. That will make room for the expanded security area.

The stairs and elevator will be replaced with more central, “feature stairs,” and elevator. Second floor changes would include a popped roofline where the ceilings are currently too low to be useable, adding a high-impact focal point for open views. The second floor’s previous addition will be used as a utilitarian space for baggage screening and mechanical equipment but “It isn’t as fit for passengers,” said Ambro.

The security side will get larger restrooms and a more central concessions area. Johnson explained that the new plan pulls light through from one side of windows to the other, which opens up the view across the interior spaces as well as bringing in more natural light. “You can be seated at the bar, keeping on eye on gates one and two,” he said.

Last comes the potential for more efficient windows, new carpet, artwork and interior furniture that “can go a long way,” said Johnson, as would a hearth and/or creative lounge seating, if the budget allowed.

The engineers have come out to the site often and feel comfortable with the bones of the building, said Ambro.

“But the mechanical engineers, not so much,” added Johnson.

Overall, Ambro emphasized that the idea isn’t to make any changes aesthetically to the overall character of the site. “We are taking a modest approach. There’s a humble quality to Gunnison, and rugged. So we don’t think you need anything too flashy,” he said.

Gunnison County sustainable operations director John Cattles has been working closely with Gensler and the airport manager, Rick Lamport. Cattles said the way the project execution has been designed would make it easier to manage.

“It’s a hard airport in terms of pre-security construction. But the ability to take that space and re-vision it … We can see a path forward,” said Cattles.

“The way they’ve gone about this actually allows phasing … Mechanical can keep operating while they install the new [mechanical components]. So we can take off bite-sized chunks as we have funding,” Cattles said. “This really represents an actual project.”

County commissioners Jonathan Houck and Roland Mason gave their nod of approval to the design as presented, and said they felt comfortable that things are moving in the right direction. Commissioner John Messner was not in attendance at the meeting. Mason said he appreciates that the structure of the building will be re-used and that it will be kept up and running throughout the remodel. Houck called the concept design sensible, and said the phasing approach feels obtainable.

From here the plan will be developed to a schematic design, then the county will begin the process of choosing the construction manager. Cattles said he was almost finished putting together an RFQ (request for qualifications) to release in the coming weeks. He said he hopes to get a short list of contractors by February, and the construction documents should be drawn in March or April, to be in the FAA budget timeline.

The FAA 2020 fiscal year for grant purposes began October 1, and allocates $2 million in discretionary funds for the first contracts to get underway. So the county needs to meet timelines to apply for additional funding, and many of the larger grants require the concept design phase and construction documents to be in place. From there, the first phase might begin as soon as 2020 and other phases might stretch several years.

“This is going to continue to get more and more real,” said Cattles.