Macon's Guitar-Shaped $14M FBO Terminal at Middle Georgia Regional Airport Marks Topping-Out Milestone
Why It MattersThe project shows a regional airport funding a purpose-built executive FBO through its own aviation revenue to compete for business-aviation traffic and investment.
A topping-out ceremony has marked a construction milestone for the new guitar-shaped executive FBO terminal at Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon, Georgia. The 15,000-square-foot facility, named the HighNote Aviation Terminal, carries a $14 million price tag and is scheduled to open in May 2027.
Macon Mayor Lester Miller attended the ceremony, where a panel was hoisted in the ceremonial topping-out tradition. Miller said the uniquely designed building, which overlooks the airport runway, is meant to reflect the city's musical history and attract business investment, adding that under federal law the project can only be funded with revenue generated by Macon's two airports, with fuel sales and hangar rental income used to service the construction bond.
The terminal's design, created by architect Chris Nardone of Passero Associates, incorporates a guitar shape in the building's footprint, with the parking canopy forming the instrument's neck. Interior features will include piano-key design elements and a sound hall and gallery celebrating artists of Capricorn Records, with most of the construction wood sourced as Georgia-grown timber. The facility will house a second-floor restaurant and bar with a runway-view patio, a conference room, an event lawn, a pilot shop, and space for a flight training school and other aviation businesses.
Sheridan Construction President and CEO Christy Kovac, whose Macon-based company is building the terminal, said the topping-out milestone allows other trades to proceed with exterior walls and finishes before the skylight is installed to enable interior completion. Airport Director Doug Faour said the new terminal is intended to leave pilots and executives with a strong first impression of Macon and encourage repeat FBO visits, adding that the airport runway is also undergoing a major extension and that Contour Airways currently operates several flights per week from Macon to Baltimore and Fort Lauderdale.
