Southern Sky Aviation unveils new FBO Facility at Panama City

Southern Sky Aviation’s state-of-the-art fixed base operator (FBO) at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is the newest private terminal at the airport, and it’s ready to fly! The facility will elevate the travel experience for passengers and aviation enthusiasts.

The new facility, less than an hour from the white-sand Florida beaches, features an 11,000-square-foot FBO terminal with modern amenities including a conference room, lobby, restrooms and administration spaces. Pilots can also enjoy a dedicated lounge and a quiet room. With 68,000 square feet of hangar space and a new apron, the facility accommodates aircraft of various sizes as well as ensures secure storage.

The project began in late 2021 and throughout the development, Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) collaborated closely with Southern Sky Aviation to create a luxurious and high-end facility that seamlessly blends form and function.

Drawing inspiration from Florida’s natural environment and the aviation industry, the terminal’s design features angled columns reminiscent of the distinct Florida palm trees while the roof of the terminal is shaped like an aircraft wing.  

The finishes of the facility were carefully selected with Southern Sky’s branding in mind. Vibrant blue tones are used throughout the building and harmonize the gray, white and dark wood accents throughout the building. Innovative and customizable LED lighting enhances the space, with the ability for dynamic color changes adapting to different occasions and guest preferences.  

Darryl Brewer, President of the FBO Division of Southern Sky Aviation said “We are extremely proud of the design and look of our new FBO.  It is unique and has garnered many compliments from our customers.”   Brewer added “They really enjoy the interior look and layout along with the innovation built in.”

The project leveraged futuristic and innovative processes, especially through the in-depth 3D modeling and rendering software used to effectively communicate and convey the building to the team. This played a pivotal role in visualizing the final product.

Led by architects in GMC’s Pensacola office, the firm’s architecture, civil engineering, interior design and aviation teams all collaborated on this project. While the architects and interior designers focused on the terminal building and hangar design, the firm’s civil engineers and airport planners and engineers were responsible for the site work, including the apron and parking area.

Additional project team members included W3 Engineering, Inc. mechanical, plumbing engineering and fire protection; Ruby Engineering, Inc., electrical engineering; Berube Leonard, LLC, structural engineering; Rives Construction, general contractor and Lemoine Project Manager, the owner’s representative.

Southern Sky Aviation’s commitment to excellence shines through every detail of the facility. Through immense collaboration, the team successfully completed a beautiful facility that will serve Northwest Florida. More importantly, the new FBO enables Southern Sky Aviation to meet the needs of its clientele in a vibrant new location, while increasing its economic impact in the region.

About Goodwyn Mills Cawood

Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is one of the largest architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast. Whether designing schools, parks, hospitals and other commercial developments, or providing clean water, safe streets and restoring resilient environments, GMC takes great pride in serving our communities through the transformative work we do. Every project is guided by the foundational concept that communities are built by people, not companies, and we strive to serve our communities with quality, integrity, creativity and care. One of the Southeast’s most comprehensive multi-disciplined firms, GMC is equipped to provide all the services associated with architecture, interior design, civil engineering, environmental services, landscape architecture, planning, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, electrical engineering, surveying and disaster recovery. www.gmcnetwork.com