Background
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) sought to expand its general aviation terminal building with CARES funds. The existing facility lacked sufficient space for the fixed base operator’s (FBO’s) growing operations. In particular, the absence of classrooms and meeting rooms made it difficult to accommodate flight instruction. Along with building expansion, project goals included terminal apron expansion, access road extension, and parking area enlargement. Foth was tasked with completing a terminal programming study, conducting a thorough environmental review, and developing a cost-effective design in conjunction with a local architect partner.
Approach
Utilizing FAA guidelines, we began National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation for the terminal work. A Section 4(f) Statement was prepared, documenting the affected historic resources and evaluating feasible and prudent alternatives that would cause the least overall harm. Additionally, we completed an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA included a summary of the proposed action, a discussion of the need for the project, and an evaluation of a range of alternatives. Ultimately, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued, allowing the airport to proceed with construction.
Working with the FBO and City of Mason City Development Services Department, we developed plans for an expanded and updated terminal that allows MCW to offer increased opportunities for flight training, adequate services for corporate pilots, and a better experience for private aircraft travelers. Our team developed site, parking lot, and security fence and access designs for the project. Working with our architecture partner, we developed a design approach for expanding the existing building that ensured the construction types and materials worked with the existing building for a consistent look.
Design of the new terminal began in early 2022 with an accelerated project schedule. The design team employed a novel approach to breaking the project into phased components. As a result, airside paving, landside roadways, parking lot expansions, and terminal foundations were bid separately from the terminal building.
Results
The new terminal provides a modern facility with many previously unavailable features. These include a passenger boarding bridge, larger gate hold area with adequate seating, additional restroom space, ADA accommodations, and sufficient parking.
Markets: Airports
Services: Aviation Services
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