Photo by rendering by Gensler
In order to accommodate a 22 percent growth in passenger traffic and the addition of several new air carriers, Gensler is set for a major expansion and renovation of San Francisco International Airport’s old international terminal. The rebuild will have a Slow Food© focus. Slow Food is a non-profit organization founded to counteract fast food and its effects on daily quality of life.
The 587,000-square-foot, $383-million terminal will also feature exhibits by local and world-renowned artists, and it will be designed as an extension of the Bay Area’s culture and aesthetic. It will also have a strong emphasis on comfort and service, with the addition of a post-security re-composure zone, a "meeters-and-greeters" lounge, and hotel-inspired seating areas.
The new terminal is aiming for LEED silver certification and will support the airport’s goals of zero waste and a reduced carbon footprint. All the sustainable elements will reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1,667 tons per year. A substantial portion of the infrastructure from the existing building will also be used in the renovation, reducing the impact of the new terminal by a one-time amount of about 12,300 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The original building will be stripped down to its structural steel skeleton and receive a new metal and glass building envelope, promoting an abundant use of natural light.
It will also become a teaching tool, as signage will engage travelers and educate visitors on the terminal’s sustainable features. The new terminal is expected to be completed by fall 2011.
—Nielsen Business Media
