St. George Regional Airport (SGU) had outgrown its remote air traffic management arrangement with Los Angeles TRACON. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, St. George’s surge in commercial and general aviation created an urgent need for on-site control, prompting SGU’s successful application to the FAA Contract Tower Program.
The project delivered an 80-foot ATC tower with the cab floor at 70 feet, sited at midfield to maximize visibility across all movement areas. A square footprint was selected based on site-specific soil conditions and cost efficiency. This was the first tower site to be selected by VR approval. The new tower upgrades the airfield from a class E to a part time staffed class D operations status.
Woolpert Engineering led design and engineering, bringing deep experience with both St. George’s soil profile and ATC tower construction. The base structure was designed to full FAA regulatory compliance, with exterior design approved by the St. George City Council.
The project was funded primarily by the State of Utah with supplemental FAA support. Legislative involvement secured funding early, keeping the project on schedule from application through completion—a total of four years.
