Award-Winning Airfield Project Keeps Midland Airpark Flying High During Critical Upgrades
The Midland Airpark Airfield Improvements project has earned Silver in the Special Projects category at the 2026 Texas Engineering Excellence Awards, presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas. The honor recognizes the project’s innovative design approach, cost-saving solutions, and seamless execution while the airport remained fully operational.
Led by design firm Parkhill, in partnership with the City of Midland and TxDOT Aviation, the project tackled urgent infrastructure and safety challenges at Midland Airpark, a key hub for business and general aviation in the region.
By 2023, the airport’s main runway and supporting pavements had significantly deteriorated. A critical FAA-identified safety issue related to the secondary runway’s threshold further escalated the need for a comprehensive airfield overhaul. The city turned to Parkhill for a fast-tracked solution — one that could meet strict FAA timelines without disrupting airport operations.
“Parkhill exceeded our expectations at every level,” said Justine Ruff, Director of Airports for the City of Midland. “Their innovative design and phasing plan not only kept Midland Airpark operational during construction but also delivered $1 million in savings — all while meeting FAA requirements under a tight timeline. Their leadership, responsiveness, and ability to manage complexity were absolutely key to the project’s success.”
Parkhill delivered a full suite of services, including civil and electrical engineering, topographic and aerial surveying, and construction phase support. The project scope included reconstruction of Runway 7-25, taxiway realignments, apron upgrades, and a temporary threshold relocation to maintain safe, continuous operations.
Design was completed in just 11 months, significantly ahead of typical airfield project timelines. Parkhill’s phasing strategy allowed continuous runway use, and during construction, their team identified a design adjustment that not only saved the city $1 million but also shortened the schedule without compromising FAA compliance.
In addition to enhanced safety and efficiency, the improvements boosted the airfield’s capacity, increasing pavement strength from 18,500 pounds single-wheel to 75,000 pounds dual-wheel loading—preparing Midland Airpark to handle larger aircraft and support future growth.