Building History and Use
Jackson Hole Airport operates under a unique set of obligations that few airports in the world share. Located seven miles north of Jackson, WY, entirely within Grand Teton National Park, the airport operates under a Use Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior, making environmental stewardship not just a value but a condition of operation. Every building decision, infrastructure investment, and operational policy is evaluated against its impact on the extraordinary landscape, wildlife, and ecosystem of one of America’s most iconic national parks.
For years, the airport’s Fixed Base Operator facilities were housed in structures more than 30 years old, with administrative offices located in a temporary trailer. As the airport’s operational needs grew and its sustainability commitments deepened, a new purpose-built facility became both a practical necessity and an opportunity to demonstrate what responsible aviation infrastructure can look like inside a national park.
The new Administration and FBO Building spans 21,000 square feet across two levels and a full basement, consolidating administrative offices and FBO terminal operations in a permanent facility designed for long-term efficiency and visual integration with the natural environment. The building was designed by CLB Architects, the airport’s longstanding design partner through eight consecutive collaborations, with an emphasis on reducing environmental footprint and blending into the surrounding landscape with natural materials and low-impact systems.
Why Geothermal?
The Jackson Hole Airport Board has pursued environmental leadership across its operations for decades. The airport runs on 100% green power through Lower Valley Energy, operates an all-electric maintenance vehicle fleet with a company-wide anti-idling policy, holds Business Emerald Sustainability Tier certification, has adopted a DarkSky-compliant lighting plan to protect the night sky over Grand Teton National Park, and partners with The Good Traveler program to help offset carbon associated with passenger travel.
Extending that commitment to building mechanical systems meant pursuing all-electric HVAC for the new Administration and FBO Building. Geothermal was the logical choice, as it eliminates combustion, operates efficiently at the high altitude and extreme seasonal temperature swings of the Greater Yellowstone region, and requires a minimal above-grade footprint that preserves the visual integrity of the national park setting.
Darcy was selected based on its ability to deliver high thermal capacity from a single compact well, which minimizes site disturbance while delivering the performance the building requires.
“Our focus on environmental sensitivity will be evident as our offices and the FBO terminal will be the most energy efficient building we have built to date,” said Airport Board President Ed Liebzeit. “We continue to prioritize not encouraging additional flights and collaborating closely with Grand Teton National Park.”
Design and Construction
The Phase 1 installation consists of a single groundwater well delivering 125 tons of cooling and 423 MBH of heating to the new facility, integrated with the building’s all-electric mechanical system alongside triple-glazed windows, overhangs, a white roofing membrane, LED lighting, and other energy reduction features. The open-loop geothermal system efficiently manages waste heat while operating cleanly within the constraints of the national park environment.
The project was funded with revenue bonds to be paid off through FBO user revenues, with financial projections indicating full payoff within five years, reflecting the airport’s long-standing commitment to responsible investment in its own infrastructure without relying on public subsidies.
Phase 1 of More to Come
The Administration and FBO Building represents Phase 1 of a broader all-electric HVAC conversion program at Jackson Hole Airport. Future phases are planned to extend geothermal systems to additional airport facilities, including Hangar 3, which is currently being redesigned as a high-performance all-electric building. Each phase builds on the proven performance of the installed systems and advances the airport’s goal of eliminating fossil fuel combustion from its building operations entirely.
For an airport that answers to a national park, that goal is an ongoing commitment to the landscape, wildlife, and community that make Jackson Hole one of the most extraordinary places in the United States.