Air cargo buildings next to a working airfield are designed around the apron, the fence line and the height limits long before anyone picks a wall system, and the builder has to respect all three while keeping trucks and ground-handling equipment moving. We build cargo warehouses, truck courts, dock aprons and support buildings around the Sunport with that discipline, and we plan the work so the airport and your tenants keep operating while we do.
The airport covers 2,039 acres about three miles southeast of downtown, east of Old Town and Barelas and west of the national laboratory and the air force base, with one terminal of roughly 574,000 square feet and 25 gates. In 2025 it handled more than 83 million pounds of cargo on runways of 13,793, 10,000 and 6,000 feet. The express and parcel carriers that work there, along with freight forwarders and ground handlers, create steady demand for sorting space, truck docks and yard capacity right next to the field.
Road access is part of the appeal. On I-25, exit 220 serves NM 500 (Rio Bravo Boulevard), exit 221 serves Sunport Boulevard and exit 222 serves Gibson Boulevard toward the air force base. That sequence lets a delivery fleet reach the airport, the base or the freeway south without crossing the downtown grid. The challenge for an owner is making the most of the ground between those exits, and that is where we begin.
The city's Destination Sunport project uses roughly 75 acres northeast of the terminal that became available when runway 17/35 closed in summer 2012. Development began in December 2018 and was planned in three phases over about five years. Projects like that matter to occupiers because they offer airport-adjacent parcels with utilities and roads already planned, which cuts the unknowns for a build.
For a buyer comparing sites, the Sunport area offers a different value proposition from the North I-25 corridor or the South Mesa. It is closer to the airfield, nearer the air force base and densely served by arterials. The tradeoff is smaller parcels, airport review requirements and a tighter relationship with neighbors.
Cargo users generally need deep dock aprons, many doors and a floor plate that supports sortation equipment. A distribution center at the Sunport might include cross-dock lines, secure caged areas and an office mezzanine, while a freight forwarder may want a smaller building with more door density than depth.
Some tenants also need hangar-style space for ground equipment or aircraft parts. A clear-span aircraft hangar or maintenance bay follows its own rules for door size, fire suppression and floor drainage, and it is typically governed by the airport as landlord. We coordinate with the airport early on any airside-adjacent use.
The slab and pavement for a cargo site take a beating. Loaded dollies, forklifts and tugs concentrate weight on small wheels, so we design reinforced concrete aprons and truck courts with the right thickness, joint spacing and subgrade preparation. Our dock aprons and loading zones work includes slope for drainage, embedded steel at dock edges and bollards that guard doors.
Inside the building, we pour flat floors for racking and automation, install dock levelers and seals and provide the electrical capacity for conveyors and charging. For perishables, we also build insulated sections and refrigerated docks, through refrigerated dock retrofits when an existing building needs a cold section.
Any project near the airfield has a review timeline. Cranes, tall equipment and sometimes temporary structures need coordination with airport operations and aviation authorities, and the review period varies. We identify the height of every lift during design and plan the schedule with review time included.
Delivery windows matter, too. Cargo operations peak at certain hours, and construction trucks should avoid those windows on shared roads. We schedule concrete placements, steel deliveries and paving around the traffic pattern, and we keep haul routes clean to prevent debris near aircraft operating areas.
Debris is a serious hazard near an airfield, so we keep sites swept, secure loose material and cover stockpiles. Access to sites inside secured perimeters may require badging or escorts, and we build that into the mobilization plan. Our trade partners follow the airport's rules for vehicle movement, lighting and flagging.
We also apply wind controls. Strong gusts across the open mesa can move dust, sheeting and light materials, and in an airport environment that can create real problems. We secure laydown yards, fasten loose items and stop work when wind speeds exceed set thresholds.
Beyond the building, owners need truck scales, lighting, fencing, utilities and parking. We provide high-bay building options for storage-heavy users and design fences and gates that tie into the owner's security plan. Smaller aviation users sometimes weigh the city's West Mesa airfield against the Sunport, and we compare the two on access, height limits and utilities.
For clients in ecommerce fulfillment, speed of occupancy is critical. We use early procurement and prefabricated components where possible, and we turn over buildings as soon as life safety systems and inspections are complete.
Share the site, the cargo or logistics program and your target opening date. We will review the access, review requirements and slab needs, then return a scope and budget range. Call or use the contact form.
Often yes for tall structures and cranes, and sometimes for lighting and reflective materials. The airport and aviation authorities review these items, and the process can add weeks. We check the heights and locations during design and file notices early.
A heavy-duty slab with tight flatness for forklifts and sortation systems, reinforced to handle point loads. Joint spacing, subgrade and curing method are as important as thickness. We detail the slab with the equipment vendors and test it for flatness after the pour.
Most projects need several months for permits and design and then several more for construction. Steel, doors and dock equipment have long lead times, so early procurement shortens the schedule. We provide a timeline that separates review time, procurement and construction.
Exit 220 connects to Rio Bravo Boulevard, exit 221 to Sunport Boulevard and exit 222 to Gibson Boulevard. Each has a different truck profile, so we match the site entrance to the best route. A traffic memo helps if truck volumes are high.
Yes. Many older buildings can be converted by adding dock doors, reinforcing slabs and upgrading electrical service. We start with a structural and utility survey and show you which upgrades are practical and which are not.
Tell us about the property, the building and the schedule.
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