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AirportImprovement.com      September 2026
GENERAL AVIATION 
SVH
Traffic at the airport is, indeed, growing. 
Aircraft operations increased 33% from 
47,015 in 2023 to 62,815 last year. 
Ferguson attributes much of the growth to 
the region’s increasing population, primarily 
due to residents moving north from 
Charlotte and Mooresville, NC. 
Charter activity for several NASCAR 
teams is another factor. Victory Air bases 
nine jets at SVH, and Champion Air 
bases three. The airport’s connection with 
NASCAR mirrors the sport’s large presence 
throughout the state, including several 
racetracks, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and 
headquarters facilities for most of the teams. 
Given these existing relationships, plus 
encouraging prospects for continued 
growth and development, city leaders were 
inspired to take action about SVH’s badly 
outmoded facilities. 
The Process
In summer 2021, a committee of airport 
stakeholders visited four other airports 
throughout the region for a close look at 
their facilities. The team included Ferguson, 
SVH Office Manager Carissa Barnette, two 
representatives from the Iredell County 
Economic Development Corporation and 
a member of the Statesville Chamber 
of Commerce. In North Carolina, they 
toured Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, 
Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport and 
Stanly County Airport. In South Carolina, 
they visited Rock Hill/York County Airport. 
All four are general aviation facilities; 
Concord-Padgett Regional also has 
commercial service.
Committee members asked leaders 
at each airport what they like about their 
terminal and what they would suggest to 
SVH. The advice was unanimous: Build 
it bigger than needed now and add more 
storage space.
Funding, of course, was crucial. 
Ferguson credits the Statesville City 
Council for its support and related outreach 
to elected state officials. State Rep. Jeffrey 
McNeely and State Sen. Vicky Sawyer, 
who represent the region in the North 
Carolina General Assembly, saw the need 
and potential at SVH and spearheaded 
efforts to add two separate line items to 
state transportation bills that provided 
$22.2 million for the terminal project ($6.7 
million in 2023 and another $15.5 million 
the following year). Construction of the 
terminal building came in at $12.5 million, 
with civil engineering and architectural fees 
costing an additional $1.3 million. Another 
$6.5 million of the state funding will be 
used for a project to prepare an airfield site 
for hangars and other developments. 
With funding secured, the city selected 
Samet Corporation as the primary general 
contractor. It also chose to use the 
construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) 
project delivery method. 
Samet Director 
of Field Operations 
Loyd Johnson says 
the CMAR method 
worked well for the 
project because of 
the reduced risk and 
budget predictability 
it provided the city 
and airport. The contractor is also using 
this method for a terminal and concourse 
modernization project underway at 
Piedmont Triangle International Airport in 
Greensboro, NC. 
Johnson explains that CMAR often trades 
a slightly higher fee upfront for significantly 
reduced risk, better budget predictability 
and a collaborative team aligned toward the 
same outcome. “This is especially valuable 
on complex or first-time project types like 
airport terminals,” he notes. 
Crews broke ground in May 2024, with 
demolition of the old terminal building 
taking priority because the new structure 
was built on the same site. The upgraded 
three-story building was officially open for 
business in March 2026.
The Design
Airport leaders had a clear vision about 
what they wanted, and collaborated closely 
with Lindsey Architecture to translate their 
ideas into construction drawings. The vision 
was for a sleek, modern terminal that looked 
like it belonged in the region. “We wanted 
to reflect Statesville,” says Ferguson. It was 
also important for the new building to be 
welcoming and attractive, he adds. 
Project Architect Amanda Lamb notes 
that the majority of the terminal exterior is 
covered with locally manufactured brick in a 
deep red color that is prevalent in the city’s 
historic downtown. “Early in the design 
process, we spent some time in downtown 
Statesville to look at building materials and 
characteristics so we could pay homage to 
Statesville’s heritage,” says Lamb.  
That historic reference is balanced by 
modern materials including brick veneer, 
fiber cement panels and a metal panel 
rainscreen. Low-e glazing was added for 
climate control inside the building since 
there are a lot of glass windows. The third-
floor balcony has lighting along the railing 
to help illuminate it at night. 
Another key design objective was to 
provide comfort and state-of-the-art 
amenities to passengers, pilots, employees 
and local citizens. “We used warm 
tones inside the lobby, which helps relax 
passengers,” says Lamb, adding that the 
views afforded by ample windows also 
have a soothing effect. 
For additional comfort, architects 
specified a variety of seating options, 
including styles with soft yet durable 
materials. An island with built-in outlets 
provides a convenient place for guests to 
charge laptops and other devices. 
Space on the third floor is earmarked for 
a restaurant, and airport staff are working 
to find the right tenant to operate it. A 
657-square-foot boardroom on the second 
floor will be made available for outside 
groups to rent. 
Pilot amenities include a work station, 
private lounge, two “snooze rooms,” and 
a shower. “Our team spent time talking 
to local pilots to find out what they are 
looking for in airports,” Lamb relates. 
Project designers located the pilot facilities 
on the second floor to help reduce noise 
and distractions and allow them to rest in 
between flights. 
Other Improvements 
Change is also occurring airside, including 
the recent completion of a $9.8 million 
southside taxiway project funded by the 
North Carolina Department of Transportation 
Aviation Division. This March, SVH finished 
a runway safety zone improvement project 
funded by a $9.3 million FAA grant. Crews 
cleared away obstructions such as an old 
rock dam that was a remnant of an old 
runway project. 
LOYD JOHNSON

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