The $160 million project, dubbed as Air Capital Terminal 3 or ACT 3, will be the third terminal built in Wichita and will replace the existing Mid-Continent terminal built in 1954.
Designed by Kansas City-based HNTB Architecture, the new terminal will feature interior designs that showcase the city’s rich aviation history, and is expected to enhance Wichita’s standing as the Air Capital of the World.
The new terminal will feature more space for ticketing and baggage claim on the roadway entry level than the existing terminal along with departure lounges, concessions and expanded passenger security screening to meet TSA’s latest and potential future standards. There will be 12 boarding gates in the base bid package, each equipped with a passenger boarding bridge with pre-conditioned air and ground power for aircraft. The facility is designed to serve 16 planes from the base building with loading bridges.
Stairs and elevators close to the main ticket lifts will offer easy access to the ramp for ground boarding operations. There will also be outbound passenger baggage handling systems with inline explosives detection security screening, and centralised outbound baggage make-up room with two large slope plate make-up devices.
The terminal will feature enhanced pre-security and post-security concessions and passenger services, with majority of food/beverage and retail concessions located near the gates. New terminal roadway and entrance feature will include clear, modern signage, and separate commercial vehicle lanes. New aircraft apron would be built at the new airport, with deicing collection system to accommodate a varied fleet mix of Group II and III aircraft, as well as occasional Group IV aircraft.
Covered curbside and crosswalks will be featured for parking and rental cars. There would also be a separate roadway for building service area and loading dock, with security screening for products and personnel entering back-of-house areas, and a new four-level parking garage.
Besides the new terminal building, the project will also add a new parking garage and a new rental-car facility, which is scheduled to open before completion of the new terminal. The $40 million parking garage is funded with rental car fees, parking revenues, and general obligation bonds to be retired with airport revenue.
Out of $160 million, $37 million has been spent on design and programming. The project is funded with airport passenger and aviation user fees. Wichita-based Key Construction and Detroit-based Walbridge partnered to serve as the project’s general contractor. The terminal is scheduled to open in 2015.
