For pilots and passengers arriving at a new airport, their first taste of the community they are visiting comes right after stepping out of the plane — and the sight that often awaits them is of the terminal building located by the runway.

In the case of Dowagiac Municipal Airport, the 50-year-old structure greeting the new arrivals to its grounds leaves something to be desired, said manager Oscar Azevedo.

“Right now, it’s not a very welcoming building and doesn’t represent the City of Dowagiac well at all,” Azevedo said. “It’s old and outdated.”

The city’s recent efforts to rectify this issue are beginning to bear fruit.

Last month, city council approved a resolution authorizing design work to begin for a replacement airport terminal.

After only a few short weeks of work, architects with Kalamazoo-based TowerPinkster have come up with preliminary sketches for a new structure.

The design work is the first crucial step in the project to replace the current 200,000 square-foot terminal, which has been a longstanding goal for the airport, Azevedo said. The existing building, which was built in the 1960s, is suffering from issues with its roofing, cooling and insulation, the manager said.

The proposed new building will only be over half the size of the building it’s replacing, at 108,000 square feet, making it more efficient to heat and power.

“It’s not a building that will be used on daily basis,” Azevedo said. “Our concern was with making a building that was as sustainable as possible, keeping maintenance costs as low as possible while curtailing on the level of comfort it provides.”

Airport terminals provide a number of crucial services to community airports such as Dowagiac’s, especially for pilots, who not only use the facilities to map out flight plans but also as shelter when stranded by severe weather conditions, with some needing to stay a day or two while waiting out storms, Azevedo said.

The new terminal will offer several amenities for pilots, passengers and other guests, including ADA compliant restrooms, a kitchenette and a pilots’ lounge. The building will also be located in a different part of the airport, adjacent to the public parking area, Azevedo said.

The city is looking to start construction on the project by September or October if possible, Azevedo said. The airport qualifies for grant funding from the state and federal agencies, which are expected to cover 95 percent of the estimated costs.

“I’m grateful for the city and council to allow this project to go through,” Azevedo said. “There’s been no friction, and we’ve shared a real positive vibe. My job has been a lot easier because of it.”