South Bend International Airport Carwash

JPR was hired to design the site, parking layout, and complete building—inside and out—for a new rental car maintenance facility serving the airport. The facility includes office space, restrooms, four detailing bays, four service bays each with a four-post lift, two drive-thru car wash bays, four fuel stations, and a large on-site fuel tank to keep rental fleets moving efficiently.

One of the biggest challenges was coordinating the complex infrastructure needed for the lifts and car wash systems within a constrained building footprint. This was solved through extensive planning meetings and real-time problem-solving during construction to ensure everything fit and functioned as intended.

As the lead designer, JPR oversaw all design and coordination, including collaboration with subconsultants for car wash equipment and MEP design. The site also required annexation from county to city jurisdiction, a process JPR helped navigate with the owner and local officials. The resulting facility dramatically improves rental car turnaround times, increasing vehicle availability for incoming travelers and supporting smoother airport operations.