MU students present designs for new airport terminal

Two teams of University of Missouri engineering seniors spent the past semester learning about the function of the Columbia Regional Airport for their capstone project.

The students presented hypothetical airport redesign proposals on Monday to better improve functionality, sustainability and expansion opportunities in the future.

The designs included new terminal buildings, pavement designs and storm water and wastewater management.

“Our project looks to meet the demands of customers and to attract more visitors than the airport is currently serving,” said Warthog Consulting Engineers team leader Kristin Hofstetter. “We hope you can see that we’re influenced by the city’s devotion to learning, innovation and sustainability.”

The design projects were part of their final semester capstone project. City staff attendees of the presentation rated the students on their engineering abilities, communication skills and preparation of student consulting teams.

The students’ hypothetical budget was $40 million.

Currently, the city is working on plans of its own for the new terminal project, which will be funded partly by the new hotel tax approved this summer. Half of the project is supposed to be funded by the FAA, but no word yet on when that funding will be approved.

For now, the airport staff is working on runway improvements at the Columbia Regional Airport. The airport received Federal Aviation Administration funding on that a few months ago.