The New Mexico Spaceport Authority announced today the selection of Gerald Martin Construction Management of Albuquerque to oversee the building of Spaceport America.
It’s an award-winning company founded in 1974 with offices throughout New Mexico and one in Arizona, according to a news release from the spaceport authority. The company’s team, the release states, will include specialists with experience in aviation facilities, fire and emergency facilities that service aeronautic and rocket facilities, and specialists who have worked with NASA.
“We are proud to be a part of this historic endeavor,” James Mee, Gerald Martin’s vice president of construction management, was quoted in the release as saying. “Gerald Martin Construction Management has assembled a superb team that will provide specific and focused expertise to all areas of the project at each phase of the project.”
Spaceport Director Steve Landeene said the authority is excited to work with the company.
“There were many quality applicants in our selection process, and we feel confident that Gerald Martin has a level of experience, cost effectiveness and local knowledge that will give us the edge as we begin construction,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration licensed the commercial spaceport earlier this week, so the only step that must be completed before construction can begin on the $198 million facility is the inking of a formal lease with planned anchor tenant Virgin Galactic. State officials expect that to happen before the end of the year, and plan to break ground on the spaceport in early 2009.