Integrated Approach Transforms Regional Aviation
Swinerton is proudly partnering with the City of McKinney to deliver transformative projects that are expanding the transportation capacity of McKinney National Airport.
McKinney National Airport is strategically located on the northern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and was previously only open to private travel. Through an integrated approach combining development expertise and construction excellence, Swinerton is enabling this regional airport to accommodate international general aviation travel and, for the first time, commercial flights.
Establishing a Standard of Excellence for New Facilities
The airport expansion began with Swinerton partnering with Griffin Swinerton to provide developer, finance, and build-to-suit services for two critical facilities: a new 3,200-square-foot US Customs and Border Protection facility and a city-owned 40,000-square-foot Corporate Hangar 10. These developments allow international flights to land and taxi directly to customs, significantly expediting the process for travelers while providing streamlined processing capabilities.
The recently completed public-private partnership demonstrated Swinerton’s ability to deliver comprehensive solutions that extend beyond traditional construction services. Notably, Corporate Hangar 10 includes a 300-foot hangar bay with office space, along with 75,000 square feet of heavy-duty apron connected to a 5,000-square-foot taxiway extension.
However, the construction of this facility was not without challenges.
One of the primary considerations for the construction of Corporate Hangar 10 was the site’s location—including both its poor soil conditions and its proximity to Corporate Hangar 9, a 24-hour emergency service station serving Medical City Hospital.
Swinerton’s team worked closely with geotechnical and civil engineers to evaluate cost-effective options for Corporate Hangar 10, ultimately executing a solution involving 12 feet of moisture conditioning with a one-foot base cap. This innovative approach enabled the use of shallow foundations without requiring piers, resulting in substantial cost savings and schedule acceleration.
When the time came to excavate beneath the neighboring emergency station’s access road for new utilities, Swinerton carefully implemented work phasing to guarantee zero disruption to critical emergency services. Throughout the course of the project, the team continued to coordinate power supply connections while maintaining uninterrupted service, even during planned shutdowns.
Swinerton’s integration with developer Griffin Swinerton provided flexibility and heightened coordination that allowed the team to quickly pivot and devise creative solutions for each challenge. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Swinerton and Griffin Swinerton’s efficient approach to managing the project allowed them to provide over $1 million in value savings back to the client.
Bringing Lessons Learned to the Commercial Terminal
The success of these initial projects— Corporate Hangar 10 and the CBP facility—led to Swinerton being selected as Construction Manager At-Risk for the new ground-up, 47,000-square-foot commercial terminal.
More than just a testament to the City of McKinney’s confidence in Swinerton, the commercial terminal project represents a significant milestone for the neighboring community.
The terminal will feature six gates for arrivals and departures; public arrival check-in area, concessions, and hold rooms; airline support areas, ramp operations, and rental car counters; extensive site development across 55.6 acres; a new fuel farm, glycol diverter vault, and 1,500-space parking lot; and a 350,000-square-foot heavy-duty apron connecting to an existing taxiway. The terminal features a tilt-up wall system and open-concept interior designed to enhance passengers’ experience while supporting budget and schedule objectives.
The City of McKinney estimates the terminal could accommodate 200,000 passengers in its first year of commercial service, with capacity for up to 1 million passengers by its fifth year.
Due to Swinerton’s success with the other two facilities, the team has broken ground on the new commercial terminal with a few key lessons learned for coordinating construction activities at the operational airport. Early preconstruction efforts were completed in just two months from schematic design to city council approval, enabling the project to break ground promptly.
Additionally, partnering with experienced trade partners who have successfully completed similar projects for the City of McKinney, Swinerton is ensuring that complex scopes of work are managed by highly qualified team members who can deliver quality within the accelerated schedule.
Swinerton has also utilized pull planning as a fundamental scheduling technique to coordinate all project stakeholders across multiple airport locations. These collaborative sessions bring together trade partners, airport operations, the control tower, and other airport staff for early identification and resolution of constraints.
Through these weekly meetings, all stakeholders are provided a deep understanding of milestone requirements, leading to greater schedule certainty and minimizing potential impacts to airport operations.
“I couldn’t be prouder of all those who have been involved in the growth that has taken place at the McKinney National Airport,” said Logan Wilson, Project Manager at Swinerton. “We truly could not have done it without each and every person’s unique contribution.”
As of spring 2026, the team is on track to deliver the terminal ahead of schedule.
Client-Focused Delivery Excellence
The three facilities at McKinney National Airport demonstrate Swinerton’s commitment to building long-lasting partnerships through exceptional project delivery and client-focused service.
Throughout construction, the team has continued to coordinate closely with air traffic control, the Federal Aviation Administration, and airport operations to ensure safety and minimize disruptions, particularly during critical apron tie-in work on the terminal where no fencing separates workers from active airfield operations.
Mayor George Fuller of McKinney praised the collaboration, saying, “The Swinerton team has done an excellent job partnering with the City to facilitate a smooth delivery process, and we’re excited to see the results.”
As the team continues to work towards project completion later this year, their dedication proves why Swinerton is the preferred builder and trusted partner for critical aviation infrastructure development.
