Recently, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority awarded a contract to Lindsey Architecture, P.C. to provide the architectural and engineering design services for the Authority’s “Terminal Modernization Project.” The total estimated fees and expenses under the contract come to $13,428,986.
That’s just for the design phase; once that phase is complete, a whole lot more money will have to be spent carrying out the project itself.
Piedmont Triad International Airport Executive Director Kevin Baker, when asked the expected total cost of the project, said it was “unknown.”
Construction administration services aren’t part of this contract.
The design phase is expected to be complete by July of next year.
The overall percentage of the cost of the design phase for large construction and renovation projects varies widely depending on the project; however, construction industry estimates generally put design costs somewhere between 5 percent to 15 percent of the total project cost.
Baker said this will be a major redesign of the airport terminal that’s meant to modernize it. He said this is much needed for the building, which opened in 1982.
“It’s meant to bring it into the 2020s,” Baker said.
He added that it’s not about expanding the terminal’s size. In fact, Baker said, the new design may mean the removal of some gates and a more streamlined building.
“It’s about making the building more efficient,” he said, adding that the renovated terminal will be “right-sized.”
Old windows, heating systems and other aging components are often in need of repair.
“A lot of systems are failing,” he said.
Baker also said that, though $13.4 million was allocated for the design phase, the design cost could come in under that in the end. He said the consultants would be paid for the hours worked.
“We may not spend all of that,” he said.
Lol, this is Greensboro, they’ll spend that and more. Go to Raleigh, cheaper and more varied direct flights.
“Old windows, heating systems and other aging components are often in need of repair.
“A lot of systems are failing,” he said.”
Just like all government projects, they’re built and then left to rot without any maintenance or upkeep until they’re in such bad shape stuff has to be torn down and major renovations have to be done that cost millions of dollars. Government administrators never learn to care for the things they’re given, to repair and maintain the buildings and grounds, to fix broken equipment promptly, and to update systems when necessary, leading to taxpayers paying far more each time everything is at a point of being unusable. Actually, I think they just want to have a more modern, fancier facade than their big sister competitors, but that’s a secret.
Personally, if able, I’d always vote no on any financial request until they learn to put their toys neatly away after playing with them.
There’s nothing at all wrong with the airport as it is.
– But the “improvements” are going to REDUCE the number of gates. What geniuses.
If they’d like some potted plants to improve the ambience, my wife could provide them – in a context conducive to calming the inherent stress of travelling, and in accordance with the essential feng shui of the inherent dynamism of motion.
For only $10 Million.
Another giant Sour de Force.
The airport needs updating. One terminal with 15 gates or so. Half the existing gates are not used currently. I fly 2-3 times per month thru PTI. It’s a great, easy airport. But showing its age – even with the recent “upgrades”. See Memphis, Kansas City, LaGuardia, New Orleans, etc. for cities with brand new concepts to emulate. Time to play catch up!