“Wow” is the first word that springs to mind. The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport’s new terminal building is impressive. The feeling you get when you see the new terminal is special. The brick layout transitions into the modern building look. This modern look is detailed with grey metal.
The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport started as a small grass strip in the early 1960s. It grew into a paved runway. The county purchased it in the late 90s. In 2012, the airport became a department within the county government.
Today, the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport serves as a reliever airport. It helps Dulles and Washington International Airports. The 407-acre airport has one 5,000-ft asphalt runway. The airport operates on a self-sustaining basis. It supports its tenant businesses and the aviation community.
The biggest recent project was a new terminal building. It cost 4.8 million dollars. The terminal opened in January 2020. The entire project cost 14.8 million dollars. This included site development.
The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport’s new terminal is very green. It was designed by Sydnor Tetterton. The building was planned to be very green. It was built to LEED-Platinum standards. The 10,000-square-foot structure has two stories. It uses a geothermal cooling and heating system. It also uses 79 solar panels for electricity. On sunny days, the building feeds electricity back to the grid. The windows keep heat in during the winter. They keep heat out during the summer.
The terminal has a rooftop rainwater harvesting system. It is not yet fully functional for drinking water. The state has no regulations to support public rainwater harvesting.
The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport designed the building to be environmentally friendly. It is close to the small town of Midland. The airport wanted to be mindful of its neighbors.
The outside of the terminal blends old and new. Part of the building is brick. It is Thomas Jefferson’s brick. This is the same style as Monticello. The other part of the building is aluminum. This shows a forward-thinking organization.
The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport terminal has attracted new tenants. DC Skydiving Center is a new business at the airport. Aviation Adventures has leased office space in the new building.
The terminal can be a meeting place for the community. It can also be a short-term emergency center. The state provided 57 percent of the building’s cost. The county covered 43 percent. Generous donors also helped. They paid for furniture and appliances.
The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport is a major draw for businesses. The county wants to lure businesses to its green development zone. The airport is strategically located. It is near Hwy 28. The state plans to make it a four-lane road.
Land is available for new hangars at Warrenton-Fauquier Airport. COVID-19 did not hurt the airport’s business too much. Many people want to see the new terminal. The airport has a nice conference room. The sheriff’s department and other companies use it. The Warrenton-Fauquier Airport is open for business.
Locals visit Warrenton-Fauquier Airport to watch airplanes. They talk about aviation with the staff. This keeps a sense of community. The airport manager appreciates the support of sponsors and tenants. He looks forward to holding events in the new building. The new terminal is modern yet historical. It shows the airport’s growth and commitment to the future.