Swank and Nevada firm to lead airport expansion

A joint venture that includes Swank Enterprises of Kalispell and Q&D Construction of Sparks, Nevada, has been picked to lead the construction of a $100 million passenger terminal expansion at Glacier Park International Airport.

The joint venture was selected by the Flathead Municipal Airport Authority through a stringent process following Montana state procurement regulations and state law.

The airport authority chose a construction manager/general contractor delivery method for the project, which brings an experienced contractor on board during the design process to identify construction efficiencies, or challenges, that can be difficult for a design team to foresee, according to a press release from the airport. The goal of bringing the planning and the construction together for this blueprint phase is to minimize delays and costly change orders throughout the course of the complex project.

“Using a construction manager/general contractor method helps ensure a streamlined process. It’s a very large project with a lot of moving pieces,” Airport Director Rob Ratkowski in the press release.

“Swank Enterprises is a family-owned, Montana-based business that renovated the airport 20 years ago,” Ratkowski said.

“With their extensive commercial construction background, coupled with the airport-specific expertise that Q&D Construction brings to the team, we are extremely confident in their ability to deliver this project to our high standards,” Ratkowski said.

Partner Q&D Construction brings a background of more than 100 airport projects to the team, from interior improvements to ground-up construction.

The terminal expansion project will essentially triple the size of the current airport facility, though some improvements will be in operational areas such as Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoints, baggage management spaces and other back-of-house areas. The expansion will also create more holding rooms, gates, dining and beverage options, along with larger shopping areas, and an increased meet and greet lobby.

Ratkowski said the airport is developing the existing passenger terminal for maximum flexibility over the next 20 years, adding spaces that can be expanded easily as passenger volumes continue to grow.