Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fayetteville airport getting upgrades
Replacement of climate control systems, windows to improve energy use
FAYETTEVILLE — The terminal at Fayetteville Executive Airport is getting an update to replace 1970s era climate control systems and windows as part of a terminal energy improvement project.
The city will use a $1.3 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to replace the full heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, including ducting, as well as a boiler and windows. A chiller for the system will also be moved to improve access.
All the equipment is original to the terminal, which was constructed in 1978, according to airport officials.
“It’s a substantial amount of work, said Summer Fallon, airport manager.
“If you’re familiar with the airport at all, the first thing you would notice is the entire east side of the building is windows, along with a large portion of the west side, so we lose a substantial amount of heat and cooled air because of the broken seals on the windows, and it makes it substantially more difficult to heat in the winter time.”
C.W. Crawford Construction of Fayetteville will do the work. Garver engineers did an earlier evaluation of the terminal, designed the systems and will oversee the project at a cost of $55,000. The city’s share will be $8,909, which is the cost of contractor insurance.
Airport officials will submit a grant application to the Arkansas Department of
Aeronautics for the remaining 10% of the project costs at its completion.
Total project cost is expected to be almost $1.46 million.
The terminal building has undergone numerous renovations since it was built, including repurposing of the baggage handling area into a meeting room, removal of the commercial kitchen and restaurant, addition of a pilot lounge and the enclosure of a large portion of the original open lobby to make additional offices for airport personnel and outside business.
The outside businesses moved into the facility after most commercial air service and related businesses moved to the Northwest Arkansas National Airport at Highfill after it opened in 1998, according to airport officials. The renovations have led to an inefficient patchwork in the heating and air system with outdated controls.
The airport received a FAA grant in 2017 for an energy assessment of the terminal building, according to airport officials. That assessment recommended replacement of both the heating and air conditioning system and the boilers in the terminal building. Both boilers were in imminent danger of failing, the assessment found.
The airport received an Arkansas Department of Aeronautics grant in 2018 and replaced one of the boilers.
The airport was selected in November by the FAA to receive a grant for the heating and air conditioning replacement project, according to airport officials.