b'60 FNLTERMINALSPHOTO: PATRICK EDMONSON OF PHOCO PHOTOGRAPHY Governance ChangeRecognizing the airports value as an economic development engine, regional leaders have taken key steps to optimize its governance structure.Historically governed jointly by the municipalities of Fort Collins and Loveland, FNL has been subject to a complex decision-making process involving multiple city council readings and appearances. To streamline this, officials recently initiated the transition to an airport authority model, giving the green light to begin negotiating an intergovernmental agreement with the two municipalities involved to establish the Northern Colorado Regional Airport Authority.The departures and arrivalsThe transition is expected to be lounge was designed for businesscomplete by 2027. travelers, families and tourists. A Learning Experiencebuilding materials. Having a contractoreasy task, but Hensel Phelps did a greatAs airport director, Kinney emphasizes the with boots on the groundbuilding it withjob of managing added work changes toimportance of involving the community the suppliers and trade specialtiesandprovide the best value to the owner at thethroughout facility planning and having them in earlier to weigh in soonercompletion of the project, Wooldridgedevelopment. He recommends engaging will get you closer to a more realistic,remarks. future users early in the process at actual construction cost, says Bass.Widmier stresses the value ofcommunity days or design charrettes to The team also prioritized agencyassembling the right team. Finding angather input on features and services that coordination. Bass highlights the value ofowner, owners representative, designwould make local travelers choose one consistent, cross-agency collaborationteam and general contractor who canairport over others. throughout any terminal project. Atcollaborate effectively for the greater goodAronson, from VFLA, encourages FNL, weekly planning meetings broughtof the project delivers the best product atother directors to consider hosting together representatives from the FAA,the best value, she says. community events like food truck nights or Colorado Department of Transportationsoutdoor movie screenings. Some events Division of Aeronautics, the cities ofHigher Costs, Longer may require additional programming Loveland and Fort Collins, and the airportLead Times or infrastructure, but he encourages itself. This routine helped all parties remainDuring the design phase, the project teamdecision-makers to think big about informed and afforded them opportunitiesfaced extraordinary challenges due to thedeveloping a community-oriented facility.to provide input and contribute theirCOVID-19 pandemic. Things just kind ofAt FNL, designers incorporated local expertise to the project. As a result,went berserk in the industry, Bass recalls.art and specified building materials that Bass says the team was well preparedCost of materials and acquisition ofreference natural elements from within for challenges and construction movedbuilding materials became very difficult.the region to reflect the communitys forward without major surprises. Material prices soared well beyondcharacter and create a sense of Wooldridge notes that significanttypical projections, some increasing 200%place. Kinney stresses that an airport design refinements were made beforeto 300%. In addition, lead times extendedis a community asset and should be construction to ensure the project could besignificantlywhat once took two todeveloped with input from all corners of delivered on schedule and within budget.three months to procure began taking sixthe region it serves.Naturally, that required close collaborationmonths or more. This spike far exceededAronson advises that any airport between Hensel Phelps, the design teamthe standard annual cost escalation ofdevelopment should start with a and the airport. Although many elements3% to 5%, with rates nearing 150% percomprehensive master plan to guide were initially value-engineered out toyear over a three-year span, Bass reports.long-term growth and validate the future meet budget constraints, some were laterThese unexpected conditions addedrole of aviation in the region. Dont rush reinstated as cost savings were realizedsignificant complexity to project designthrough that planning or design process, during the project. Doing this is never anand planning. he remarks. July | August 2025AirportImprovement.com'