XNA to open parking deck this week, recommends Nabholz to manage terminal renovation

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) plans to unofficially open a new four-story parking garage this week, said CEO and Executive Director Scott Van Laningham. The Highfill airport will host an opening ceremony after the airport’s board meeting Aug. 15.

On Tuesday (Aug. 7), the airport’s operations committee, comprised of airport board members, considered several projects related to signage for the parking garage and overhead signs leading to the adjacent parking lot. Also, the group interviewed three construction companies and recommended Nabholz Corp. to serve as the construction manager at risk for the terminal renovation project. The board will consider the recommendation at its Aug. 15 meeting.

A construction manager at risk allows for a contractor to be on board with the project from design through construction. Alternatively, a contractor likely wouldn’t be involved in the project before construction if XNA were to seek a hard bid for the work.

In April, the airport board selected Hight Jackson Associates of Rogers to design the project. The first phase of the project includes renovation of the existing terminal lobby area, and a second phase will include an elevated pedestrian bridge over the street in front of the terminal that will run between the parking garage under construction and the terminal.

The other two companies interviewed and recommended second and third, respectively, were Manhattan Construction Co. and a joint venture between Cadell Construction Co. and Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.

As one of the two signage projects board members considered, they recommended approval of a $286,832 project to install signage for the first floor of the parking garage. Rental car companies will use the first floor of the garage until another garage dedicated for the companies is built. The rental car companies have agreed to pay for the project.

Also, board members discussed a nearly $1 million project to install overhead signs along the street leading to the terminal and in front of the parking garage. They recommended seeking bids for lighted overhead signage as the signage discussed was for reflective but not lighted signs. The plan has been to use the money that was saved during construction of the parking garage to pay for the signs. The garage was projected to be completed between $850,000 and $890,000 under budget.

In other business, airport board members recommended a $14.05 million project for the first phase to reconstruct Taxiway Bravo and a $1.065 million contract with Garver for construction administration of the taxiway project. Construction would be completed by Emery Sapp & Sons. All recommendations from the Tuesday meeting will be considered by the full board when it meets Aug. 15.