San Diego International Airport (SAN) has officially opened the first phase of its new Terminal 1.
It replaces the airport’s 58-year-old former Terminal 1 with a modern, “world-class facility” designed to elevate the passenger experience and meet the growing travel demands of the San Diego region.
Operator, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, is confident that its “thoughtful design and expanded amenities” demonstrates its commitment to efficiency, comfort, and sustainability.
The project was delivered by Turner-Flatiron, a Joint Venture, with Gensler serving as the lead architect.
“On behalf of our partnering agencies, stakeholders and all the employees and tenants at San Diego International Airport, we are truly proud to open the new Terminal 1 and share all that it offers with San Diego and the world,” said Kimberly Becker, president and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
“The existing Terminal 1 has served our community for more than five decades and today we are ushering in a new era. The new T1 provides the comfort, convenience, and efficiency travellers expect while reflecting the spirit of San Diego.”
While airport authority board chair, Gil Cabrera, noted: “We are thrilled to commemorate this historic day and celebrate the tremendous effort and planning that went into making this day possible.
“I am proud of the airport authority team and their unwavering commitment to bring San Diego a new Terminal 1. The airport is often the first and last impression we get to make as a city, and the New T1 is something San Diegans will be proud of now and for generations to come.”
Phase 1A of the New T1 features 19 new gates, an expansive ticketing hall with 69 check-in kiosks and 66 ticket counters, a spacious security checkpoint with 13 lanes, seven baggage carrousels capable of handling 4,000 bags per hour, expanded dining and shopping options with 17 restaurants and retail stores, and an outdoor dining area with views of San Diego Bay and downtown.
Travellers visiting the New T1 will have access to more than 90,000 square feet of concession space, featuring 12 food and beverage options and five specialty retail stores.
Restaurants range from local to national brands that offer quick grab n’ go or sit-down experiences and include Ambrogio 15, Better Buzz, Cutwater Restaurant & Bar, JT Bros Handcrafted Sandwiches, Lofty Coffee, Luna Grill, Market Hall, McDonald’s, Novocientos Grados, Parfait Paris, SIP Wine & Beer, and The Taco Stand.
Specialty retail stores offer a range of items from travel necessities to artisan gifts and include Liberty Station Gifts, No Boundaries, The Arts District Market, SAN Supply Co., and Univision Travel Store.
The terminal’s all glass façade designed by renowned artist James Carpenter is called ‘Luminous Wave’.
The façade is comprised of 537 curved, fritted glass panels that allow light to illuminate the ticketing and baggage claim halls while reducing heat and glare on monitors and wayfinding screens.
The New T1 also showcases San Diego’s artistic and cultural identity, with five major commissioned public art pieces, many integrated into the terminal design, including A Day in the Sun by Amy Ellington, RISE (pink jellyfish) by Matthew Mazzotta, Vessel of Light by Erwin Redl, Migrations by Walter Hood, and Torrey Pines by Nova Jiang.
These works, prominently displayed inside and outside throughout the terminal, celebrate the region’s lifestyle, history, and natural beauty.
The bulk of the images used in this article are from the pre-opening trial of the new terminal’s facilities on September 14 when nearly 1,000 members of the local community volunteered to act as passengers and a further 4,000 got to see a preview of the new showpiece facility.
You can read more about the new addition to San Diego International Airport in the next issue of Airport World.