Work has begun on a new air traffic control tower at Columbus Municipal Airport (KBAK) in Indiana.
A groundbreaking will be held Nov. 17, 2025, on the new 128-foot-tall air traffic control tower.
The new tower will replace the airport’s existing 80-year-old tower and will be upgraded to align with current FAA Air Traffic Control Tower standards, including sighting, backup cooling and power, security, fire and life safety, and FAA equipment, according to airport officials.
A bulk of the funding for the project is coming from the FAA at $27.7 million, with another $1 million from the Indiana Department of Transportation, and $1 million in local funding.
The design of the tower is quite unusual and was supported by a design grant from the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program. The tower was designed by Woolpert, an aviation-focused engineering firm.
The new tower has already garnered attention in the architectural world by its nomination in the Future Project: Infrastructure category at the 2025 World Architecture Festival. It was nominated along with nine other designs from around the world, according to airport officials.
Construction is expected to begin in December 2025 with completion scheduled for summer 2027.
For more information: Columbus.IN.gov/Airport
Ditto, I’m. With Kelly!
Is that thing above the cab supposed to turn with the wind.
The “OLD” towers all have all around glass on the top floor. Are we missing something here?
UGLY !! Obviously, there’s too much Govt money available to these people.
Who funds the staff? Is this a Fed control tower or a private controller tower?
As far as I know, even if it is a contact tower the equipment is owned/maintained by the FAA.