The schematic design for a new airline passenger terminal at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport was presented to the Wichita Airport Advisory Board and the Wichita Design Council on June 18, 2007. Schematic design is the latest step following completion of several years of planning that led to a final Terminal Area Plan in 2004. At that time, the Wichita Airport Authority decided to move forward with a new facility to replace the terminal originally constructed in 1954. Subsequently, program management and architectural design teams were selected, and a financial capacity analysis was completed that led to the current project cost and design scope with an estimated target of $150 million for the major elements of the terminal project. A primary goal of the project has been to design a cost-effective facility in order to keep construction costs and rental rates low for the airlines using the facility, and to provide a terminal that provides better operational efficiencies for both airlines and passengers. The new terminal is capable of handling two million passengers annually when it opens. However, the facility has been designed for future expansion to support projected growth to 2.4 million annual passengers.
The new building will be located immediately west of the existing terminal. The new two-story, 230,000 sq.ft. terminal will be a state-of-the-art modern architectural design expressing flight and Wichita’s globally-prominent position in the aviation industry. Special aviation themed exhibits will be an integral element in the terminal’s design.
Major elements of the project include:
- New terminal roadway and covered curb with separate lanes for private and commercial vehicles.
- Terminal building with enlarged ticketing and baggage claim on the main entry level.
- Upper level concourse with departure lounges, concessions and expanded passenger security screening.
- 10 boarding gates, each equipped with a passenger boarding bridge.
- Passenger baggage handling systems with inline explosives detection security screening.
- Enhanced pre-security and post-security concessions and passenger services.
Rental car service counters, plus close-in parking and car return.
Short-term and long-term public parking plus a new expanded shuttle parking lot.
- Parking with a total of nearly 3,000 spaces.
- New communications, life safety and security systems.
- New aircraft apron to accommodate the relocated terminal and gates.
Terminal Schematic Design began last fall and will be completed in July 2007. Once approved by the Wichita Airport Authority, preparation of design plans and specification and construction documents is anticipated to begin in late summer, with construction set to begin in late 2008 with occupancy in 2011. The existing terminal will be removed when the new terminal is fully operational.
Project design lead HNTB Architecture is teamed with Wichita design firms including Gossen Livingston Associates as associate architects, engineering by Professional Engineering Consultants and Dudley Williams Associates, themed exhibits and public art coordination by Greteman Group and landscape design by Landworks Studio.