DSM Airport Authority and Weitz | Turner Host Community Leaders and Partners for New Terminal Beam Signing Event
Des Moines, Iowa – Earlier last week, The Des Moines Airport Authority, along with the Weitz | Turner joint venture team, hosted a beam signing event for community leaders and project team members to celebrate the Des Moines International Airport New Terminal closing out its structural phase, marking a major milestone in the project’s construction process. This celebration was held at the project’s jobsite and recognized the progress and partnerships driving this transformative development.
During the event, guests were invited to sign their names on the beam, which represented one of the final pieces of structural steel to be placed in the terminal’s framework. The project’s structural phase is scheduled to be fully complete in early January. The event brought together an esteemed group of attendees from across the Greater Des Moines community, including key community board members, municipal contributors, local mayors, and additional key partners involved in the terminal’s development.
“This event serves as a historical record of those who were involved in funding and constructing the new terminal. Hopefully, decades from now as the building grows and evolves to serve the needs of Iowans, this beam will demonstrate the community effort it took to achieve this once in a generation project, cementing a legacy for all of those involved on this project.”
Kevin Foley, Executive Director of the Des Moines Airport Authority
Following the completion of structural steel in January 2025, the construction team will shift focus to completing the building structure in February. The exterior envelope of the New Terminal is expected to be watertight with the full façade completed by the end of summer 2025.
“Completing the structural phase of this project is a monumental milestone. Our team is proud of the teamwork that brought us to this point and we’re excited to continue to move into the interiors phase of construction.”
Dan Solem, Project Executive for Weitz | Turner at the Des Moines International Airport New Terminal Project.
The New Terminal is set to open to the public in late 2026 offering 18 aircraft gates, updated baggage handling systems, elevated dining and retail options, expanded central security screening checkpoints and improved technology.
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About The Weitz Company
Founded in 1855, The Weitz Company is a full-service construction company, general contractor, design builder, and construction manager that serves all 50 U.S. states. Weitz is one of the oldest general contractors in the United States and an industry leader in industrial construction, senior living, student housing, mission critical construction, virtual design and more. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, The Weitz Company annually ranks in the top tier of Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine’s Top 400 Contractors and Building Design+Construction’s Giants 300 Contractors lists. You can read more about The Weitz Company at https://www.weitz.com/.
About the Des Moines Airport Authority
The Des Moines Airport Authority is an independent entity that oversees the operations and maintenance of the Des Moines International Airport, a vital transportation hub for the State of Iowa. With over 30 nonstop destinations across the United States, the Airport Authority works to provide safe, high quality air service while making air travel to and from Iowa more convenient and pleasurable. For more information, visit www.flydsm.com and follow @dsmairport on Twitter and DSM International Airport on Facebook.
