US design and consulting firm Gresham Smith has announced that North Carolina’s Charlotte City Council has approved the 370,000ft2 (34,375m2) Charlotte Douglas International Airport Terminal Lobby Expansion project.
The expanded ticket lobby will almost double the size of the current space. Designed by Gresham Smith and partner DAS Architecture, the project is part of the airport’s capital investment program Destination CLT, which supports Charlotte Douglas’s drive to become the preferred airport and airline hub for the region.
“The Terminal Lobby Expansion project is a cornerstone of Destination CLT and will support our airport’s growth while maintaining an exceptional passenger experience,” said Jack Christine, COO, of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
The project expands the terminal lobby to the north to improve the passenger experience by creating additional space for security lanes, ticketing and baggage claim areas, a central energy plant, a basement level for offices and access to the subterranean walkways and an exterior canopy, as well as increased circulation space in the lobby.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the airport is pursuing Green Globe certification. The design will drive greater operational efficiencies and cost savings through energy modeling, high-efficiency equipment in the central energy plant, daylighting controls, LED fixtures, and variable frequency drives on the baggage handling system, among other strategies.
“This project will accommodate the rapid growth Charlotte Douglas has experienced in recent years, which has put a strain on the terminal,” said Wilson Rayfield, executive vice president, Gresham Smith. “Given our strong presence in Charlotte, we understand the important role the airport plays in the city’s growth as well as how it will need to evolve to support that growth. Coupling our extensive aviation experience with our local insight we are designing an airport that puts the passenger first, reflects the community and positions Charlotte Douglas for the future.”
Gresham Smith is leading the architecture, interior design and experiential design and wayfinding for the Terminal Lobby Expansion, which features a canopy and two passenger skybridges that connect the curbside and existing rental car/hourly parking garage. The firm is also providing building commissioning services for the project. Previously, Gresham Smith developed an airport-wide wayfinding master plan and is leading implementation of the new comprehensive signage across the terminal complex.
