XNA to start pre-design work, select construction manager for terminal project

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) continues to make progress toward a $20 million project to renovate and expand the terminal as construction on other projects, such as the parking deck, moves forward.

Airport board members recommended approving a $117,196 contract with Hight Jackson Associates of Rogers for project planning and programming, including to receive board feedback, complete a survey of the existing terminal and develop passenger modeling. This work would be completed before the design work, which would be a separate contract.

“It’s a way we all get on the same page before we start designing anything,” said Larry Perkin, partner and principal-in-charge for Hight Jackson.

In April, the board selected Hight Jackson to design the project, and the first phase will include renovation of the existing terminal lobby area. The second phase will include a sky bridge over the street in front of the terminal and a building that would connect the parking deck to the bridge.

Also, board members recommended a list of three companies as potential candidates to serve as construction manager at risk for the project. Instead of seeking bids for the project, XNA is looking to hire a construction manager at risk to complete it. Airport staff have reviewed qualifications from six companies, and the following are the companies on the shortlist: Manhattan Construction Co., a joint venture between Cadell Construction Co. and Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., and Nabholz Corp.

Those companies on the shortlist will present to the airport board before one is selected. The airport board might select a company as soon as the August meeting.

PROJECTS UPDATE
Construction continues on several projects such as the parking deck, the new B gates at the northwest part of the terminal, and the economy lot expansion.

The parking deck is planned to open Aug. 8, and work is expected to be completed between $850,000 and $890,000 under budget, said Jeff Gattis, project executive for Nabholz. Board members recommended staff to look into using the money to add overhead signage along the loop around the airport.

Also, board members recommended a $14 daily fee to park in the parking deck. The first floor of the deck will be used for rental car companies, and the top three floors will be for passengers and visitors. It will have 1,489 parking spaces, with 1,153 spaces for passengers and visitors.

Construction of the new B gates is expected to be completed at the end of July or in early August. Little Rock-based Flynco is completing the $1.91 million project.

The project to expand the economy lot has been completed. Tomlinson Asphalt Co. completed the $472,185 project to add 200 spaces to the lot.

In other business, Jim Krall, vice president of university advancement and assistant professor of organizational leadership for John Brown University, has joined the board. Krall replaces Shelley Simmons, who moved from Siloam Springs and no longer eligible to serve on the board as a representative for the city.