Richmond International Airport plans 24-foot-tall dogwood sculpture, enclosed rental car garage connector, native plant garden

A 24-foot-tall dogwood blossom sculpture, a garden of native and regional plants, and a new enclosed connector for the rental car garage are among projects totaling nearly $30 million that are being planned at Richmond International Airport as a way to make the facility greener, artsier and safer.

The sculpture, to be located at the base of the "V" in the V-shaped circular parking area between the North and South daily parking garages, would depict a Virginia dogwood branch rising from the ground with three attached dogwood flowers fanning out at the top. The dogwood is Virginia’s official state flower and tree.

The garden, which would replace a managers’ parking lot at the north end of the airport’s terminal, would be located on the way to the rental car garage and be part of a $25-million project that’s also slated to include a new direct entrance to the planned vertical closed connector to that garage. (The airport is relocating the rental car counters to an expanded north baggage claim area and building a two-level climate-controlled walkway between the new counters and the terminal.)

Both projects were among those recommended for approval July 17 by the Capital Region Airport Commission’s Planning and Construction Committee; the full commission now will consider approving them at its July 29 monthly meeting.

At the same meeting, the committee also endorsed awarding a $23.9-million contract to a North Carolina firm for the construction of the airport’s new Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility. The bid, from Cooper Tacia General Contracting company, was the lowest submitted for the project, which will add a 30,000 square-foot, two-story facility with six bays for the vehicles and support spaces, as well as 10 bunk rooms with living quarters and showers, a kitchen, dining area, watch room and other facilities.

Funding for the ARFF facility originates from multiple sources, including CRAC’s budget, the Virginia Department of Aviation and federal agencies.

Committee members also heard from RIC Director of Capital Development Nagesh Tummala, who provided an update about 19 capital improvement projects totaling $119.5 million that are underway at the airport.

Among eight current construction projects totaling $46 million are:

• a board bridge replacement project now moving to the B terminal;

• a taxiway project awaiting Henrico County approval that is on target to finish next month;

• a restroom renovation project with smart technology that should be finished by Christmas;

• the installation of LED fixtures in the second floor of garages to enhance energy efficiency.

Projects in the bid-and-award phase include a restaurant renovation.

And bids are out for studies on a number of other projects, including a consolidated security area (reducing the airport’s two TSA screening areas to just one) and a parking guidance system that would display the number of available parking spaces as well as a red or green light above each one to clearly indicate availability. That system also would allow travelers to reserve spots in advance.

Farther in the future, the airport is planning to erect a “monumental sign” featuring an illuminated design in the shape of the state of Virginia to create an entry gateway on Williamsburg Road. The plans must earn approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In his landscape design presentation of the approved proposed garden to be located on the way to the rental car garage (pictured above) as a gateway experience to the airport and Metro Richmond region, Jay Hugo, managing principal at the Richmond-based design firm 3North, emphasized his design's “native plant palette, including grasses that are durable and low maintenance, and trees providing shade.”

The curvilinear landscape would include seating and a water feature that “responds to the architecture proposed” including a “comfortable flow from a new proposed entrance into the terminal that allows you to get directly into the vertical [planned enclosed connector] for the rental car garage,” he told the committee.

The smaller, shadier area in the park would have flexible seating and a place for a food truck with only eight parking spots remaining. Hugo developed the pocket park for a fee of $18,060.

Charles S. Macfarlane a Richmond-based developer who sits on the committee, said he liked the concept of having local food trucks at the park to give an impression of the Richmond-area and potentially give regular fliers a taste of the area's varied culinary offerings while inspiring them to try more.

The total budget allocation for the project – which includes the rental car connector and the pocket park – is $25 million; costs for the park have not been split out from the project, according to airport spokesperson Troy Bell.

The garden and “Core Landscaping Project” (which would feature the dogwood sculpture) were developed because “there was an interest in beautification, improving the customer experience, offering better amenities, and supporting a sense of place,” Bell told the Citizen. “For many airport users, the pocket park may be the first impression they have of the Richmond region. As far as the center core landscaping project, the Commission intends to create a more inviting public space enhanced with public art.”

In addition to the sculpture, which would be 21 feet wide at the top, the landscaping project also would add seating and additional flowering plants, while retaining an array of flags that currently surround the center area (which currently houses a number of green shrubs that would be removed).

It also would include enhancements and new plantings throughout the current V-shaped parking area, one side of which is set to receive electric-vehicle charging stations.

“As a demonstration project, we've talked a little bit about solar opportunities, this being a high visibility area, I don't know how much solar power we could generate, but it would demonstrate to the traveling public that the airport is thinking about sustainability,” Vice Chair Jessica L. Schneider said, pointing out the airport is seeking two Green Globe designations. “Since we are going to be demoing to get access to the side of the curb and gutters, it might be a good way to to run a conduit to run some power.”

A committee member pointed out many airports in hotter climates with covered parking secure solar panels on roofs of those structures to keep the cars cooler, generating heat or energy.

The committee made a motion to endorse a $4.49-million contract for the project with ARW Contracting in Chester, the lowest responsive bidder.

The committee also motioned to award Gresham Smith, with nine sub-consultants, a construction contract focusing on architecture, interior design, signage, procurement and building life cycle assessment totaling $1.6 million, with funds originating from the FAA Improvement Program entitlements, with matching Virginia Department of Aviation entitlement funds and Commission funds.

While the full commission body is composed of 14 commissioners including elected officials and business leaders appointed by the four Richmond-area jurisdictions, the Planning and Construction Committee (which includes Henrico County supervisors Tyrone Nelson of the Varina District and Misty Roundtree of the Three Chopt District, is a smaller group that meets monthly with RIC airport staff to review project plans and progress as well as competitive bids.

After the meeting, two TSA officers on a smoke break rested on a bench facing the managers' parking lot slated for a greener design. The workers weighed in on the change to a planned garden saying it would be a nicer sight to gaze at while on break than the current parking lot, but that it would mean that the managers would have to trudge to the farther employee parking.

They liked the food truck idea as it could mean a cheaper option than the food vendor prices currently at RIC and said a security consolidation project makes sense because it would unify TSA's efforts in one place as well as save time and money for the many confused passengers who sometimes go to the wrong terminal and have to throw out a pricey beverage when they go back through security to reach their correct gate.

In 2025 1.8 million passengers used RIC, a total that was 2.25% lower than the 2024 figure. RIC's 2025 budget is $66.3 million in operating revenue and $46.3 million in operating expenses.

Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.