"Airport design adds space"

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Airport design adds space
Jay Kirschenmann 
The Sioux Falls (SD) Argus Leader


By this time next year, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport's new
1,100-square-foot, second-floor observation and waiting area will be open so
visitors can see off and greet travelers in comfort.

The new area is part of a $1.5 million project that includes an additional
500-plus square feet for the first-floor waiting area, new carpeting, and
bathrooms remodeled on both levels.

Ninety percent of the project is paid for with federal funding, with the
other 10 percent coming from revenue from operations.

"People will be able to come upstairs and see off and meet guests and have a
great view of the airport and planes," said Mark Griffin, chairman of the
Sioux Falls Area Airport Authority. Guests now are allowed only downstairs.

"The improvements should make the terminal building experience more
efficient, and to the delight of travelers, will cut down on the congestion
problem that sometimes trails down the escalators from the security area,"
he said.

Expansion of the security station will eliminate the bottleneck of
passengers at peak travel times, Griffin said. The renovation also will
create room for a second set of machines someday, if need be. 

The authority this week will choose from among five construction company
bids that were opened Aug. 6, said Gary Messerli, the airport's deputy
director.

"Upstairs, there will be seating for 74 in the new addition, built to the
south side of the concourses," Messerli said. "It is kind of an awkward
setup now, with people waiting downstairs, leaning and looking up the ramp
to see if their people are arriving."

Northwest Airlines station manager Dan Letellier said he looks forward to
the increased space in the security area.

"The passenger-screening area is a tight squeeze right now, so this will
expand that area and relieve the congestion so that people can more easily
pass," Letellier said. 

Comfortably accommodating more people in the terminal building can only help
business, said Linda Seiberling, manager of Gift Port I and II, located on
both levels of the building. The shops carry magazines, books, pop, candy,
snacks and a wide variety of South Dakota and other souvenir items.

"We're not changing in size, but I think an update of the building is
needed, definitely in the bathrooms," Seiberling said. "I've heard people
complain about not being able to go upstairs to meet or see off their
guests, so that will be a big improvement."

The airport authority is expected to select a contractor during its meeting
this morning. The architect is Koch Hazard Baltzer Ltd. Architects of Sioux
Falls. 

"The expansion upstairs gives people more room and will give airport
visitors a good view of the runways and see the planes take off and land,"
said Kyle Raph, project manager for the architect.

Meanwhile, work continues on a runway rehabilitation project that should
relieve the noisy air traffic over Sioux Falls by the end of September,
Messerli said. 

"Yes, we've heard complaints about the noise while the northwest, southeast
runway is used all the time," Messerli said. "Switching back to the regular
northeast, southwest runway will help immensely."


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