Purdue University Airport earns regional award for Amelia Earhart Terminal
The Purdue University Airport has been recognized for its new Amelia Earhart Terminal, receiving the 2026 Commercial Airport Project of the Year in Architecture award from the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (GLC-AAAE).
A panel of airport officials and consultants selected Purdue’s project based on its design, impact and operational efficiencies. The project also stood out for its scalability, accelerated implementation and integration with the existing airport.
For Purdue University Airport Director Adam Baxmeyer, the terminal represents more than a new building. It marks a new chapter for an airport with a nearly century-long history of connecting Purdue and the community to the world.
“The return of commercial flight service at the Purdue University Airport brings a sense of pride to the community. Having our name back on the map, that’s huge,” Baxmeyer said.
Opened in August 2025, the Amelia Earhart Terminal is the first facility at Purdue University Airport specifically designed and constructed for commercial airline service. The airport originally opened in 1930, and the previous terminal was built in 1943 as an aircraft storage and maintenance hangar. It was later modified to accommodate small turboprop aircraft in the 1970s.
As commercial air service evolved, so did the needs of passengers. The new terminal was designed with those needs in mind, offering a modern passenger experience and the capacity to accommodate both regional and mainline aircraft. It can serve two regional jets at the same time or one narrowbody aircraft.
The terminal’s impact is already being felt. Since opening, nearly 33,400 commercial passengers have traveled through the facility, giving travelers in Greater Lafayette a convenient option for commercial air service close to campus. Purdue University Airport is one of only five commercial air service airports in Indiana.
The GLC-AAAE recognition adds another milestone to that story, highlighting the work that went into creating a facility designed to serve Purdue and the Greater Lafayette community for years to come.
Administrative Operations supports the university through safe, reliable and transformative services. Connecting Purdue and the community through convenient, reliable air service is one of the many ways the organization helps power Purdue. Be sure to follow @purdueoperations on Instagram and Purdue Administrative Operations on Facebook for updates.