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New passenger terminal at Columbus, Ohio to replace 66-year-old facility
Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports could impact the construction costs for the new $1.89 billion terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, according to Joseph Nardone, CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Speaking at the Columbus Metropolitan Club last week, Nardone said, “Business, construction projects, the world likes certainty.” Despite years of planning around the project, Nardone said the unexpected is “out of your control.”
Construction broke ground last December on the project that aims to replace the 66-year-old facility by 2029, coinciding with the airport's 100th anniversary. The project will reduce the current three-terminal setup to a single, larger terminal.
The new airport terminal will feature 36 gates, a centralized security checkpoint, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to a new parking garage. It is designed to accommodate up to 13 million passengers annually.
Architect rendering of the Columbus, Oh. new airport terminal project. Image: Gensler, Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Authorities said that funding comes primarily from airport revenue bonds, federal grants, and airport savings.
The tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, include a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. Despite potential cost fluctuations and impact on the budget, Nardone emphasized the team’s commitment to the project, adding, “We don’t like uncertainty, but we will power through it.”
The project reflects Central Ohio’s growing demand for modern infrastructure and aims to enhance passenger experience.
The Labor Piece
Material prices are not the only uncertainty around the challenges of containing costs. Labor figures significantly into the cost equation.
Michael Guckes, Chief Economist at ConstructConnect, said, “Today’s construction labor market remains the industry’s primary structural concern and one to monitor despite any other disruptions in 2025.”
Guckes added, “This year’s unprecedented changes mean that many construction firms will have to choose between spending their working capital on increasing inventories in an attempt to get ahead of tariffs, or spend that capital nearer the peak of this year’s construction season to ensure they can hire sufficient workers.”
Read Where Should You Invest Your Capital, in Materials or Laborers? The Case for Labor
by Chief Economist Michael Guckes
Architect rendering of the Columbus, Oh. new airport terminal interior. Image: Gensler, Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Don’t Forget the Demand Side
While plenty of attention is focused on the potential effects of the cost of materials and labor on the supply side, these alone do not complete the full picture. In periods of strong construction demand, competition for materials and labor tends to drive up prices, pressure supply chains, and create backlogs, leading to higher overall costs.
On the other hand, weaker demand can reduce resource competition and stabilize prices but may result in underutilized capacity and lower economies of scale by increasing per-unit costs.
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