Benson Arrival-Departure Building

TKDA designed an Arrival-Departure Building consisting of a 1,100 SF free-standing structure located on the Benson Airport secure fence line. This project included programming, preparation of plans and specifications, bidding assistance, Federal Grant closeout services, and airport construction administration. The building provides a pilot lounge, restroom facilities, flight planning space, vending area, and utility spaces with direct access to both the air and land sided of the airport. The building’s floor plan is simple, with an efficient layout of entries, restrooms, and lounge spaces. The orientation of the facility to the airfield design is such that visitors have an expansive view over the airfield. To reduce the energy footprint of the building, the team utilized structurally insulated panels for the exterior walls and roof structure, which minimized air and energy losses while exceeding the State of Minnesota’s Energy Code requirement for insulation performance. Additional energy efficiency measures included LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high-efficiency HVAC equipment.