The landscaping isn’t finished, the living wall hasn’t been installed yet, and there’s no biplane hanging from the ceiling.
But the new “green” terminal building at the Oakland County International Airport is expected to be complete and to wow the public by the time the airport’s annual open house is held at the end of August.
“We have solar, we have wind-turbine energy, we have geothermal,” said Oakland County Central Services Director J. David VanderVeen of the new terminal.
“In the lobby, there’ll be a living wall, which I think will be an attraction for community groups and children, for example, for classrooms from around the area.
“And then hanging from the ceiling will be a biplane … which will be quite a feature,” he said.
The airport is on Highland Road in Waterford Township.
The county plans to dedicate the new terminal building Aug. 23 in advance of the Aug. 28 open house, which will feature vintage airplanes, air and helicopter rides and other attractions.
“There’ll be some warbirds here,” VanderVeen said. “I think the terminal building will be a good attraction.
“I would guess you can come out here and be with 20,000 (to) 30,000 of your closest friends that day,” he said.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced plans to build a new terminal in October 2008.
The $5.5 million cost of construction came from the county’s Airport Fund, which is made up of fees charged to users of the airport.
Constructed on the same site as the former terminal, its 13,500-square-foot size is smaller than the 17,000-square-foot building it replaced.
Recycled materials were used in the construction, and the new building will use wind power to offset electrical energy costs, geothermal power and rainwater for landscaping irrigation.
The county plans to seek LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The new terminal will include airport administrative offices, space for U.S. Customs and a meeting room that can accommodate 80 people.
People entering the terminal will walk into a vaulted main area with natural lighting overhead. Down the middle of the entrance is a red carpet with lights that resemble runway landing lights.
Source: The Oakland Press
The county plans to dedicate the new terminal building Aug. 23 in advance of the Aug. 28 open house, which will feature vintage airplanes, air and helicopter rides and other attractions.
“There’ll be some warbirds here,” VanderVeen said. “I think the terminal building will be a good attraction.
“I would guess you can come out here and be with 20,000 (to) 30,000 of your closest friends that day,” he said.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced plans to build a new terminal in October 2008.
The $5.5 million cost of construction came from the county’s Airport Fund, which is made up of fees charged to users of the airport.