Take a First Look at the New $72M Terminal Expansion at Sarasota Bradenton Airport

Apr. 27—MANATEE COUNTY — A proposed ground-level passenger facility at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has airline officials raising their hands, saying they want to operate there.

And that's before any of it has been built.

With a two-story panoramic view of airport operations, five passenger gates and five places for airliners to load and off-load passengers, the planned facility is designed to blend with the existing terminal.

Monday afternoon, Matthew Wilson of the design firm Gresham Smith presented a terminal design update complete with artist renderings and an animated fly-through of what the new facility would look like to the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority.

The designs show airy, well-lit spaces complete with concessions and restrooms that fit well with existing airport facilities, and would seamlessly merge with the possible addition of another concourse in the future.

Rick Piccolo, the airport's president and CEO, first publicly proposed adding a ground-level passenger facility last May as a way of managing rapid passenger growth.

In addition to the ground level facility, Wilson discussed "decluttering" plans for the existing Concourse B by better organizing available space and adding "bump outs" to introduce new concessions, all designed to relieve crowding and improve passenger flow.

Currently, there is no Concourse A, but there could be at some time in the future. Wilson showed a rendering of what it would look like, connecting Concourse B and the ground-level transportation facility.

For now, Piccolo, the airport staff and the airport authority have their hands full with an estimated $72 million of planned terminal expansions and improvements, as well as a $40 million baggage handling project set to begin later this year.

Construction could start this fall with utilities work and be completed in 18 to 24 months, Piccolo said. The baggage handling system could be completed within about a year.

But both projects could be affected by supply chain issues, he said.

Wilson said those issues and rising costs have thrown a curve at construction projects.

"It's really been crazy. Last year we were seeing 20-25% price increases. This climate, I haven't seen anything like it," Wilson said.

Also planned is replacement of the airport's escalator, which has often been plagued with problems. The new escalator would have twice the passenger-carrying capacity as the one now in use.

The ground-level passenger facility, to be located east of the ticketing counters, will retain the beauty and character of the airport, Piccolo said.

The facility was originally envisioned as a quick fix for sudden passenger growth. But rather than making it a transitory facility, designers made it more permanent and more aesthetically pleasing, Wilson said.

"Just about every airline has expressed some interest in the ground-level transportation facility. Some airlines have said they would take the whole thing tomorrow if you'd let me," Piccolo said.

The planned expansion is cost-effective and will take care of immediate needs, Piccolo said.

Carlos Beruff, chairman of the airport authority, asked if planning should be underway to handle eventual international flights.

That's already been done, Piccolo responded.

"You're ready for wide (plane) bodies right now," Piccolo said.

SRQ set a new single-month passenger record in March when 442,846 travelers passed through the terminal.

There were 1,085,500 passengers at the airport this year through March, compared to 564,066 for the same period a year ago.

SRQ is debt-free and operates with no county tax payer money. The airport's finances, with more than $60 million in reserves, are in good shape for the planned upgrades, Piccolo said.

This story was originally published April 27, 2022 5:50 AM.

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