Construction has begun on the new terminal building and aircraft hangar project at Saratoga County Airport, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

The new fixed-base operator terminal building at the two-runway airport, which handles private aircraft, will have a waiting area, concessionaire tenant spaces, rental car lease space and a connected 20,000-square-foot hangar. 

The $35.2 million project received $27 million through the governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, announced in 2022. It includes geothermal wells for heating and cooling, solar panels on the hangar and electric vehicle chargers, Hochul's office said in a statement.

Construction taking place Tuesday. (Spectrum News 1)

The work aims to provide a more efficient and enjoyable travel experience for passengers, especially during the peak summer season, according to the governor's office, which released project renderings on Tuesday.

“The Saratoga County Airport is now poised to become a key connector for prominent businesses and industries, like GlobalFoundaries and General Electric, and a gleaming gateway to the unmatched excitement the region offers, including the fast action at the Saratoga Race Course and the additional thrill of the 2024 and 2025 Belmont Stakes,” Hochul said.

The new terminal’s lobby will feature a display area for classic automobiles from the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Its second floor will provide space for pilots and a restaurant area.