Dane County Regional Airport Wins Award for its New Design and Construction

February 01, 2006
Sharyn Wisniewski (608) 661-6485
Airport

The Dane County Regional Airport has earned an Award of Merit in the Midwest Construction’s Best of 2005 construction and design competition. The award was presented Thursday, January 26 in Chicago. The project doubled the size of the terminal adding space to the ticket lobby, gates, security, retail and restaurants, and baggage claim. In implementing a distinctive prairie style design, planners and contractors followed environmentally responsible guidelines. Recycled materials were used and building materials and components were gathered and sorted, with 97.9 percent of construction waste collected for recycling--40,000 tons. “We’re pleased that our beautiful and environmentally friendly airport terminal is being honored for excellence in design and construction,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. “It is a real asset to our community and economy.” Other sustainable features in the airport terminal project included water efficient landscaping and use of efficient materials including recycled carpeting, acoustic ceiling tiles composed of recycled soda bottles and nontoxic wood preservatives. Energy use was optimized. Glazing that blocks temperature transfer while allowing light through was used, and a chiller plant makes ice at night when electricity is less expensive, and extracts stored energy during the day to cool the terminal. The energy conservation systems are expected to pay for themselves in seven years. The award competition is sponsored by Midwest Construction, a McGraw Hill publication and covers Illinois, Indiana, Eastern Missouri and Wisconsin. Tri-North Builders/Gilbane Building Co. Joint Venture, Madison, general contractors for Phases I and II of the project submitted the airport’s nomination.