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Renderings
courtesy of Gensler.
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The future of post-9/11 U.S. airline terminal
design looks promising—if critical technological
and economic issues can be decisively resolved.
Airport spectators will gasp when the Airbus
A380 arrives in 2006. Each 150-ton behemoth will
disgorge an instant crowd of 555 passengers. As
architects of airport terminals agree, excitement
about the A380 is one way air transportation is
reviving momentum lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
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Renderings
courtesy of Gensler.
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Credit the return of travelers as well. Travel
expenditures in the U.S. are projected by the
Travel Industry Association of America at $568.1
billion in 2004, approaching 2000’s $571.0
billion. For U.S. domestic airline traffic, the
Dept. of Transportation reports that January 2004
rose a respectable 1.5% from January 2003, as
airlines carried 44.1 million domestic passengers.
What reception awaits travelers at the nation’s
19,572 airports? Airport architects say uncertainty
still prevails on security, technology, common
use, new large aircraft and quality of life. Yet
they also believe the worst is over.
Replacing security’s
snarl with a smile
Of course, many faces aren’t smiling at security
checkpoints. “While the Transportation Safety
Administration vigorously promotes better security,
progress remains slow,” reports Pat Askew,
senior vice president and director of aviation
for Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum. “In-line
baggage screening is still out in the ticketing
lobby, taking up space and money. As for passenger
screening, TSA downsizing has really hurt some
airports.”
Yet new technology, streamlined procedures and
redesigned facilities may soon help, according
to Al Michejda, vice president and national director
of aviation architecture for HNTB. In fact, Michejda
asserts, “Low-cost airlines show you can
adapt to security delays through greater efficiency.
Who wins passenger surveys on airline satisfaction?
Southwest and JetBlue.”
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Image
top of Midfield Terminal at Indianapolis
International Airport. Courtesy of HOK.
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Could electronic ticketing and common use facilities
improve ticketing and check-in, key steps in airport
passenger flow? “E-ticketing” at kiosks
in terminals and offsite might save space and
staff, though preliminary results are mixed. Ron
Steinert, vice president of aviation for Gensler,
advocates common use facilities, saying, “Gates,
loading bridges, ticketing counters and baggage
claim areas that airports lease to airlines as
needed would require less infrastructure and personnel.”
On the other hand, respected aviation consultant
Leroy Simpson cautions, “Airlines like controlling
their facilities.”
Good-bye, ticketing
hall—hello, Sky Plaza?
Fortunately, alternate paths can lead to the
airport commons, to hear Marilyn Jordan Taylor,
chairman of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. “While
airports regard the ticketing hall as the ‘great
space,’ an alternate model may be emerging,”
she explains. “In Hong Kong, the needs of
travelers from all airlines who face long transfer
times will be met by a Sky Plaza (designed by
SOM) offering a wide range of activities.”
How will the A380 affect terminals? Interestingly,
its operations may favor common use facilities.
The aircraft’s deployment may not justify
carriers maintaining dedicated spaces.
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Image
top of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson
International Airport. Courtesy of Airport
Architects of America.
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Despite lingering uncertainties, architects insist
airport quality of life, including retailing,
food service and amenities, will be enhanced by
design. “Airports make passengers wait for
hours, take off clothing and open baggage,”
Taylor says. “How can they deny them better
places to rest, shop, dine and work?”
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