The new passenger terminal at Prescott Regional Airport Ernest A. Love Field was recently dedicated and displayed for the community. The $13.9 million terminal, built by the team of Phoenix-based general contractor Willmeng Construction Inc., and Prescott-based heavy civil construction firm Fann Contracting, replaces the former terminal that dates back to the 1940s. The airport hopes the aesthetically appealing facility will attract more carriers to the fast-growing region.
“Great things happen when there’s a great vision from an aligned city council, aligned mayors in the region and they get behind a great leader like [airport director] Dr. Robin Sobotta,” Willmeng CEO James Murphy said, during the June 18th private terminal dedication ceremony attended by more than 200 government officials, FAA and TSA representatives, and special guests. “When I got the plans for this terminal, you could see on paper that DWL (Architects + Planners, Inc.) killed it. It is regionally significant, the glass, the ceiling; you could see on paper that this terminal was outstanding.”
The dedication was followed by an open house the next day, which allowed community members to tour the entire facility, talk with members of the Prescott Regional Airport staff and learn more about the airport’s new terminal and services.
“This is a proud community accomplishment and a regional asset for Yavapai County,” said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli. "This is a city-owned airport, but we don't really see it that way. Instead, we see this as regional cooperation. This is everyone's regional airport."
The terminal was designed by DWL Architects + Planners, Inc. from Phoenix, with Prescott architecture firm Michael Taylor Architects Inc. providing local assistance. Dibble Engineering provided civil engineering, and LSW Engineers were the structural engineers on the project. Willmeng strived to utilize local subcontractors, and about 90 percent were from the Prescott region.
“Everybody knows that if you get north of Black Canyon City, Fann Contracting is how you execute,” Murphy said. “If we hadn’t aligned with them, we wouldn’t be here. Their team did a magnificent job getting us out of the ground.”
The terminal was just one part of the work performed at the airport, which included the razing of airplane hangars and building new entry roads that required the relocation of utility lines that ran under the property. In addition, construction included new parking areas and a new apron and taxiways. The companies completed these projects without causing any interruptions to airport operations.
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This article originally appeared in the bimonthly Arizona Contractor & Community magazine, Sep/Oct 2021 issue, Vol. 10, No. 5.
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