Jackson Hole Airport officials say a roughly $29 million terminal expansion is ready to go out to bid.

The price for the building includes $17 million for the building, $6 million for an automated baggage system, and fees for the architecture, construction management and contingencies.

The project is scheduled to go
to bid April 28.

Representatives from Carney Architects and Gensler, a Denver-based design firm, announced at Wednesday’s airport board meeting that the plans were ready.

Airport Director Ray Bishop said the economic downturn is good news for the construction project. About 20 firms have expressed interest so far.

“When you have that much interest, it tells you there is a really good bid environment,” Bishop said.

Construction is expected to take about two years, during which time the airport will remain open. 

The project will bump the airport’s square footage up from 54,000 square feet to 93,000 square feet, said Eric Vossman, an architectural designer with Gensler.

The airport’s hold room — where passengers wait for their planes after passing through security — will almost triple in size from 5,500 square feet to 14,000 square feet. The new hold room will include a fireplace, and the entrance to Jedediah’s Restaurant will be moved from near the ticketing area to the hold room.

“The circulation around the ticketing area and the security cue has gained a lot of space, and it is a lot more comfortable for the users,” Vossman said.

The ticketing, car rental and seating space will grow to about 18,000 square feet, he said.

The new project, including the addition and the remodel, will be LEED certified. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program is a set of standards for environmentally friendly buildings.

Vossman said the building is designed to blend into the landscape, with the Tetons in the background.

“It’s not anything too grand,” he said. “You can’t really compete with those mountains, so it’s not worth trying.”