By K.D. Norris
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport broke ground June 30 on a new $7.7 million operations center that will “streamline and improve efficiencies for day-to-day management,” according to an announcement from the airport management. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of June 2022.
The new facility will consolidate teams such as operations and communications, including dispatch, as well as the new emergency operations center (EOC), which is activated during an emergency at the Ford Airport and can also support public safety agencies throughout Kent County.
The 11,600 square-foot facility, located on the east side of the airfield, will be accessible air-side and public-side, “making it ideal to provide daily operations support and reachable during an emergency,” according to the announcement. In a second phase, the Ford Airport plans to expand the center to include its fire department at the site.
“This project represents the culmination of years of efforts to realign and streamline our operations and public safety functions,” Dan Koorndyk, board chair of the Gerald R. Ford Airport Authority, said in supplied material. “By bringing our teams under one roof, we’ll be able to ensure we are providing the best possible service to our guests, tenants and the greater West Michigan community.”
The building will be staffed 24/7, and will be built to withstand extreme weather conditions, including winds up to 250 miles-per-hour. “It will have purposeful redundancies in technologies and communication channels to ensure services continue during an emergency,” according to the announcement.
“The teams who will occupy this space are critical for our daily operations,” Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford Airport Authority, said in supplied material. “This new operations center will enhance communication, collaboration and efficiencies for our teams. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide the high-quality service and exceptional safety track record the Ford Airport is known for.”
DLZ of Michigan is serving as the project architect with Pioneer Construction of Grand Rapids serving as the general contractor.
The Ford Airport is working with U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer’s office to pursue community project funding for a portion of the project. The Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Rapids Police Department have all voiced their support for the project, highlighting that it will be a critical backup base in case of a county-wide emergency, according to the announcement.
