Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today turned the first ceremonial shovel-full of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new three-story parking ramp addition and exit plaza building at the Dane County Regional Airport.
“The convenience of using our airport gets even better as we add more parking just footsteps across the street from the terminal,” said Falk. “This project expands on the Prairie Style of our beautiful terminal and continues our commitment to green building.”
The 500,000 square foot parking ramp will be adjacent to the existing four-story ramp, adding 1,240 parking spaces. Earlier this year International Lane, which loops in front of the terminal and around the parking ramp, was moved outward to open up space for building the ramp.
A parking demand analysis study conducted for the airport by Leigh Fisher Associates in September 2006 found that existing demand was greater than the supply of ramp parking and forecasted a need for the additional spaces over the next 10 years.
The project also includes a new, 2,000 square foot exit plaza, with six exit gates and a parking administration office. The airport is seeking LEEDTM certification as a green building for the exit plaza construction, with the following environmentally friendly attributes:
· Water efficient plumbing fixtures providing a 40 percent reduction in potable water use
· Use of high recycled content materials and products including structural steel, gypsum wallboard, carpeting and aluminum windows
· Use of materials with no or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in products including carpeting, paints and all adhesives, creating a healthier work environment.
· Maximizing natural daylight and views to save energy and provide a better work environment
· Optimizing energy performance of the heating and cooling systems to not only save energy, but also to be more responsive to occupant needs.
· Diverting at least 75 percent of all construction waste from landfills and into recycling programs
· Water efficient landscaping with native plants, and requiring no irrigation.
The $30 million project has a targeted completion date of fall 2008, and will be paid for with airport operating revenues over 10 years. No county property taxes are used for the project.
J.H. Findorff & Sons, Inc., Madison, won the bid to serve as general contractor for the project. The architects are Eppstein Uhen Architects, project consultants were Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates, Inc., and landscaping is provided by Ken Saike Landscaping, all Madison firms. ###