Celebrating the music legacy of Macon, Georgia, a new guitar-shaped airport terminal made from Georgia sourced wood and mass timber is planned for the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

Speaking with the Telegraph newspaper, Chris Nardone, lead architect for the project with Passero Associates, said the terminal is going to be built from wood, with over 70% of which will be locally sourced from Georgia. Using mass timber is a stylistic choice with sustainability benefits that also fosters the engagement between urban development and the local forestry industry, he said. 

“The choice to use mass timber was because of the design of what the building represents, the iconic acoustic guitar,” Nardone told the paper. “Then also, when you think of Georgia and the South you think of barns and nice weathered wood country houses. Nothing beats natural finishes because it’s warm, and when you come to Georgia and you think country, you want warmth.”

The terminal looks like a guitar when viewed from above while at ground level the façade will resemble piano keys. , adding another layer to the musical theme. The airport's design and concept pay tribute to Macon's iconic musical figures, including Otis Redding, Little Richard, and the Allman Brothers. 

For the revitalization of the FBO Terminal, green design opportunities have been proposed, such as glulam mas timber construction. Faux-finished granite on the facade paired with black metal frames around dark-tinted glazing, as well as substantial angled glazing on the airside further add to the contemporary grand style of the building. Primary design intentions are to resemble the feel of a commercial terminal for users.

Much of the structure will be constructed using Southern Yellow Pine, with more than 70% of the mass timber sourced from Georgia's forestry industry. A portion of this timber will come from the tree farm of Chuck Leavell, a Grammy-winning musician and tree farmer. 

The $13.4 million development will be funded by the 2025 Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority Construction Fund. Construction of the terminal is scheduled to begin soon this year.