Every new Mead & Hunt employee from out of state takes the same journey. They fly into Madison for orientation at our headquarters and take their first steps in Wisconsin at Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA). Employees deplane and are led through a thoughtfully designed terminal that distinctly reflects the state’s capital city. Some walk across terrazzo floors depicting the Yahara River chain of lakes that surround the capital; some roll their luggage over the Dane County seal set into a compass. Most don’t realize it yet, but they’re experiencing 80 years of their company’s history with DCRA.
A Partnership Takes Flight
Our partnership began at Truax Field in the 1940s when Madison Municipal Airport (present-day DCRA) transferred operation of its airfield to the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Mead & Hunt was there to support the community and the country, designing expansions that laid the foundation for the airport we have today. This work helped establish our firm in the field of aviation engineering.
The postwar years brought tremendous strides in aviation technology and engineering. While jet airliners made air travel faster and more accessible, and communities across the country looked to modernize, Mead & Hunt expanded its portfolio to include civilian airports. Meanwhile, DCRA’s leadership was charting an ambitious course to complete a long-range master plan in 1962, positioning Madison as a regional hub.
On May 23, 1965, 2,500 spectators gathered on the tarmac to witness the airport’s first jet passenger service. The moment signaled Madison’s arrival on the national stage. A year later, a brand-new terminal building, eight times larger than its predecessor, opened its doors.
Behind the scenes, Mead & Hunt was there supporting DCRA in this new chapter, designing taxiways, an aircraft apron, parking lots, and service drives to prepare for the airport’s future. This also included the infrastructure to keep everything running safely and smoothly, with storm sewers to control floodwaters, water mains for fire suppression and supply, sanitary sewers for health, and careful relocation of the existing drainage ditch.
Growing Together
As the airport grew to meet the needs of a developing region, it required more sophisticated support. Mead & Hunt’s expansion into new areas—adding architecture services, broadening our planning expertise, and becoming a national, multidisciplinary firm—meant we were prepared to respond. Each project with DCRA strengthened trust and created more opportunities to grow together.
Andy Platz, our Board Chair and former CEO, is woven into that story. Joining Mead & Hunt in 1985, Andy quickly rose from an entry-level civil engineer to Aviation Group Leader, bringing the technical expertise and vision that would grow the firm’s aviation practice and define the firm’s aviation team for decades. He built the team, mentored its future leaders, and cultivated client relationships that endure today at DCRA.
This story continues with Jon Faucher, our current Aviation Group Leader who came to Mead & Hunt as a summer intern in 1992. Working alongside Andy, Jon spent his first summer working at DCRA, contributing to one of the company’s largest projects at the time.
“I grew up with DCRA, getting to witness and be a part of their growth and evolution first-hand. Thirty-three years later, I look back and realize how valuable it was to be a part of this,” Jon says. “They’ve always led with passengers and community first. So have we. Sharing core values leads to lasting relationships.”
Our firm has grown from Midwest roots to national reach, but we never forgot where our aviation practice took flight, and we’ve continued nurturing those relationships as the airport grew alongside us. Today we serve as DCRA’s full-service firm they count on for airport planning, engineering, architectural, environmental, transportation, and air service development. Together, we’ve undertaken numerous projects from planning to design to construction to help the airport provide passengers with the best possible experience.
The airport’s success shows in the numbers. In 2024, DCRA served 2,347,990 passengers, the second-highest traffic in the airport’s history. Behind their growth lies decades of thoughtful planning and continuous improvement, from runway expansions and reorientations to terminal modernizations to infrastructure upgrades that benefit passengers.
Award-Winning Work
Eighty years of working together have led to numerous projects that have won several awards.
The airport’s South Terminal Expansion, which added six new gates and modernized the terminal for future travel needs, is the most recent DCRA award-winning project, receiving the 2025 Best of State Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin.
DCRA’s modern-day terminal
The project reflects DCRA’s design philosophy of prioritizing passenger comfort while honoring local identity. The expansion maximizes flexibility and accessibility for all travelers. It also highlights the advantages of flying local, where passengers discover nonstop flights nationwide, right from their own community’s airport.
This award and our long-standing partnership are backed by a track record of award-winning work, including: the 2006 Outstanding Achievement for Environmental Stewardship (Wisconsin Airport Management Association), the 2007 Environmental Award for mitigation and safety area improvements (Airport Council International – North America), the 2011 ACEC Nationals and Best of State awards for the Airport Glycol Management System, and 2016 ACEC National recognition and Best of State awards for the Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) Facility.
DCRA Client Manager and National Aviation Engineer Practice Lead, Chris Reis, says, “In my 23 years with Mead & Hunt, I’ve watched this airport grow. It’s been rewarding to be part of that. When a project is completed, whether airfield, landside, architectural, or environmental, it validates what years of working side by side can accomplish to support the passenger experience at DCRA. Receiving industry recognition further highlights that partnership.”
Looking Ahead Together
DCRA continues building on its legacy with projects that modernize facilities, enhance the passenger experience, and support record-breaking demand. A new Airport Master Plan is currently in development, focused on best-in-class amenities while preserving the distinctive, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design that makes the terminal both functional and beautiful.
“The future of Dane County Regional Airport is incredibly bright,” says Mark Papko, Executive Director of DCRA. “We’re seeing unprecedented growth in passenger demand, and our focus is on ensuring that our facilities, services, and customer experience evolve right along with it. Our goal is to deliver a modern, welcoming airport that reflects the character of our community and continues to be a point of pride for Dane County.”
As new colleagues complete their orientation and depart through the DCRA terminal, perhaps catching a striking Wisconsin sunset over the State Capitol on their flight home, they now realize they are part of 80 years of history. From pioneering airfield engineering to the architectural style of the modern terminal to environmental and infrastructure upgrades, our partnership has touched nearly every part of the airport. This legacy is a testament to shared values and mutual trust. We look forward to many more years of growing together with the Dane County Regional Airport.
