By Francis B. Allgood
Published July 12, 2010
An $84 million terminal renovation to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport was presented this morning before the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport Commission. The goal of the project would be to prepare the airport in Greer to accommodate 2 million passengers annually.
RS&H, a facilities and infrastructure consulting firm, provided the board three options to expand and renovate the terminal. A fourth proposal would retrofit existing space. The airport seeks to increase operational efficiency, building performance, sustainability and to provide a better passenger experience now and into the future.
The proposal endorsed by the airport staff is “Option 1C.” Escalators, elevators and stairways would be moved to the front of the building with an all-glass façade. From the third floor there would be a common ground followed by security checkpoints. Past security, passengers would then be greeted by a retail and concessions area and could flow freely to either concourse.
“The majority of the problem in the existing terminal building exist in the core,” said Dennis Iskra of RS&H.
Currently, most of GSP’s food and beverage options come before the security checkpoint, which is on the second floor. Also, the concourses do not currently connect. Officials with RS&H say the renovated terminal would provide a faster, more pleasurable experience for passengers.
Getting through ticketing, baggage check and security is something passengers want to do first, RS&H official say. According to the firm’s report, GSP needs 15,000 square feet of concession/retail space to meet the need. About 50% of current food and beverage sales at the airport come at small kiosks on the concourses.
Clustering concessions for use by both concourses eliminates duplication of service. RS&H officials believe the plan endorsed by airport officials would increase concession and retail sales by 52%.
RS&H said GSP’s parking options are adequate and should serve until 2021. However, with the expected impact of Southwest Airlines coming to GSP in 2011, parking may be limited by 2015. Additional parking lot expansions were also recommended as part of the overall plan.
Dave Edwards, executive director of the airport, said $50 million from entitlement funds and the airport’s reserves, and another $30 million from traditional and nontraditional grants could fund the project. Another option is to have the project bonded.
More details about the financing will be available by the next commission meeting, he said. The new terminal would have a geothermal system suitable for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
In 2009, there were more than 1.2 million passengers to use airport. GSP’s highest passenger count came in 2005 with almost 1.8 million.
If the project were approved, construction would not begin until about May 2012. The $84 million price tag would prepare the airport for future growth through 2030. Certain components of the plan – an expansion of the terminal to the right of the main entrance and some additional parking options – could prepare the airport through 2040 for a total of $99 million.
