Photo provided An artist’s rendition of the modernized National Guard facility at the Columbus AirPark.
The Columbus Aviation Board has approved the site plan review for the modernization of the Indiana National Guard Armory located at the airport.
The upgrade includes renovations to the existing armory and adds approximately 4,000 square feet to the south corner of the existing building, to create “a new front entry and vestibule element,” according to a National Guard presentation slide.
There will also be a 24,578 square feet parachute rigging addition next to the armory, a 60-foot tower for parachute drying and a parachute repair shop addition attached to the existing readiness center, according to the site plan. Two adjacent parking lots will be expanded as well.
As for the look of the armory, National Guard officials said they intended for it to blend-in with nearby IU Columbus.
The approximately $6 million project is part of a 20-year modernization plan to improve National Guard facilities around the state.
“The National Guard Armory here adjacent to the airport has been working with us for probably almost a year now. Having a discussion about their expansion for both the armory unit, as well as the parachute rigging unit and moving it here onto this side of the property,” said Airport Director Bryan Payne. “It’ll definitely be an improvement, I think over the current facility. Also having the riggers unit next to the armory, I think will also be good for us.”
Indiana National Guard Construction Facilities Management Officer Jason Brady said they just completed one armory in Danville and plan to complete one in Bloomington and the one at the airport this year.
The armory modernization and parachute rigging addition are two separate projects, but the National Guard officials say they plan to do a 30-day public bid process and award them at the same time, hopefully to the same contractor, in the July to August range.
They intend to break ground on the project in September or October, according to the Indiana National Guard.
