Columbus, IN — The Columbus Municipal Airport has announced that it has selected Force Construction Company, Inc., (Force) to build the new 128-foot-tall air traffic control tower, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and Woolpert, an aviation-focused engineering firm. The project has been supported by a design grant from the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program.

Clayton Force, President and CEO of Force Construction Co., Inc., commented, “Our team is excited to be a part of this remarkable project that will add to Columbus’ rich architectural legacy and strengthen a vital part of our region’s economy. The new air traffic control tower will bring construction jobs to our community and will showcase the skills and abilities of the men and women of our area’s building trades, who help to make bold designs a reality.”

As the airport was reviewing builder bids, they received good news. “We were recently awarded an additional grant by the FAA. I am pleased to report we have now secured 100% of the funding required to construct the control tower,” said Brian Payne, Columbus Municipal Airport Director. “I greatly appreciate the support shown by the FAA in the award of this grant. The collaborative nature between architect, contractor and the Airport shows a clear vision toward enhancing the rich architectural heritage of Columbus.”

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.
The new Tower has already garnered attention in the architectural world by it’s nomination in the Future Project: Infrastructure category at the World Architecture Festival taking place November 12-14, 2025 in Miami. The Columbus Tower nomination sits among ten other visionary designs from around the world.

At this time, Columbus Municipal Airport is also pleased to announce it has selected Force Construction Company, Inc., (Force) to build the new 128-foot-tall Tower, in collaboration with the FAA and Woolpert, an aviation-focused engineering firm. The project has been supported by a design grant from the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program.

Clayton Force, President and CEO of Force Construction Co., Inc., commented, “Our team is excited to be a part of this remarkable project that will add to Columbus’ rich architectural legacy and strengthen a vital part of our region’s economy. The new air traffic control tower will bring construction jobs to our community and will showcase the skills and abilities of the men and women of our area’s building trades, who help to make bold designs a reality.”

Force will work with the architect, Marlon Blackwell Architects, from Fayetteville, Arkansas as well as the multi-disciplinary Woolpert team, whose expertise in aviation will be critical in the construction ofthe new air traffic control tower. Blackwell says, “More than a piece of infrastructure, our hope is that the new Columbus Municipal Airport Air Traffic Control Tower will become a beacon of Columbus’s architectural and design heritage, that will mark the airport as a new civic hub and provide a key gateway into the City.”

The Airport will host a Groundbreaking Ceremony on November 17, 2025. Construction is expected to begin in December 2025 with completion scheduled for Summer, 2027.