Date: February 8, 2012
A much needed and long awaited-for parking garage at Mid-Continent Airport moved one step closer as the Wichita Airport Authority on February 8 hired Carl Walker, Inc. to design the facility. The project actually began in 2007 with a feasibility study, at which time it was determined that the parking garage would pay for itself. Although the parking facilities are part of the overall terminal area development project, it is not included in the new terminal building budget.
The program includes a parking garage in close proximity to the new terminal which will provide covered parking for the public as well as contain the customer service counters and vehicle ready/return parking spaces for rental cars. The adjacent terminal area surface parking lots will be reconfigured and expanded in order to provide more efficient and improved access to the public, greatly improved service for the public and employees, and improvements to the parking revenue control system and the exit plaza.
Carl Walker, Inc. was selected out of six competitive proposals based upon experience, presentation, and proven successful history in airport parking facilities. The professional services team includes the local architecture design firm Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey and other local sub-consultants. The design, bid and construction phases of this program are extremely critical, as the parking improvements and rental car facilities must be completed prior to the new terminal’s opening in late 2014 or early 2015.
The contract is a not-to-exceed amount of $3,524,889, which is less than ten percent of the construction budget for the program and is within the cost parameters of the approved program budget. The program will be funded entirely with airport revenue.
Construction of the parking and rental car facilities is expected to begin this fall and be completed in late 2014.