Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS) plays an important role in the city’s economy. However, the aging facility was not attracting the number of  flights and passengers necessary to maximize benefits to the community. Built more than 50 years ago and designed for smaller, turbo-prop planes, CYS had been unable to cost effectively accommodate transportation security upgrades. It could screen only 10 passengers at a time. 

The new 26,500-sq-ft terminal includes apron space for airplane parking and operations; a TSA-compliant secure screening area that can handle 50 passengers at a time with belt-screening for baggage, ticketing and check-in counters; a 250-seat passenger hold room; and restrooms, baggage claim, gift shop and ground transportation kiosks. 

During preconstruction, the team cut costs by eliminating the top course of concrete masonry units, effectively lowering the building height by 8 in. while maintaining the architectural contours and open design concept. To save additional expenses, the team also reclaimed old snow fence for wood paneling, reduced the metal siding veneer in strategic places, added stoops at utility doors, reduced or eliminated glass tile in less high-profile spaces and eliminated urethane coating in some areas.

Despite a winter with high winds, the project was completed on schedule. Seventy-five percent of subcontracts were awarded to companies in the Cheyenne and Denver area, and all but two of the remaining firms were from neighboring states.

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