Airport Project of the Year: Skylark Field Airport
Skylark Field Airport demonstrates how thoughtful planning and strong coordination can transform an airport’s capabilities and strengthen the region’s aviation infrastructure.
The project delivered a 3,000-square-foot general aviation terminal building equipped with modern architectural finishes and state-of-the-art amenities for pilots, passengers and visitors. The project included a new parking lot and terminal apron, strengthening both landside and airside operations, and the city utilized local funds to repurpose the former airport beacon as a landscape feature at the airport entrance, connecting the new facility with its heritage.
Despite the complexity of coordinating multiple funding sources and regulatory entities, the project was completed three months ahead of schedule and within budget. The community celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting event featuring skydivers delivering the ceremonial key — a moment symbolic of the airport’s continued growth and its relationship with the region it serves.
The new terminal represents a significant infrastructure investment that will support future aviation activity, improve user experience and contribute to the economic vitality of the region.
“Mike Wilson and his team at the City of Killeen Aviation Department have done an amazing job improving the airport at Skylark Field. Their teamwork, determination in obtaining funding from several funding sources and commitment to quality have made the new general aviation terminal building a statement piece in the general aviation community and an architectural work of art,” said Derek Mayo with Garver. This project was funded through multiple sources, including federal, state and local funding, such as the FAA’s Airport Terminal Program and IIJA funding. Coordinating these funding sources required consistent collaboration among the City of Killeen, TxDOT and the FAA, and their joint effort kept the project on schedule and ensured regulatory compliance and effective resource allocation throughout the project’s lifecycle.