The Port of Seattle Commission has authorized initial funding for the next major modernization project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – the S Concourse Evolution – with major construction scheduled to start in 2027.
The estimated US$2.5bn renovation, part of the airport’s US$5.5bn Upgrade SEA capital improvement program, will transform the concourse’s 1973 facility, which primarily serves international travelers. The Commission authorization covers US$1.1bn to fund the project into 2029, with remaining costs to be presented to commissioners at a later date. Funding comes from the Airport Development Fund and future revenue bonds; no taxpayer dollars will be used.
The project will not increase gate count on the concourse, as there is no room to expand between the main terminal and the airfield. Instead, it will repurpose part of the customs area vacated when the International Arrivals Facility opened in 2022. The modernization will add 13,900m2, including a new upper concourse level, improved dual-level boarding operations for select gates, and expanded dining, retail, lounge and passenger amenities.
Port of Seattle Commission president Ryan Calkins said, “Today’s authorization to move forward with the S Concourse Evolution builds on the generational investments we are making at SEA to improve the passenger experience. The project will add critical seismic, structural and building systems upgrades to improve long-term passenger circulation as well as operational efficiency.”
SEA Airport managing director Wendy Reiter said, “The existing building is over half a century old, making it challenging for us to meet our goals of providing the best-possible service to our travelers and tenants. This is a necessary upgrade. As we’ve done in previous Upgrade SEA projects, we’re being innovative by building up and not out. We’re mindful of the fact that we have one of the smallest footprints of any major US airport considering our passenger volume.”
The project will be completed in multiple phases over eight years, allowing continuous flight operations at most gates during construction. A temporary S Annex will be built east of the facility to support ground boarding during closures, with a goal of no more than three of the concourse’s 12 gates affected by construction at any time. All phases are currently estimated for completion by 2034.
The project is targeting LEED Silver certification and is expected to cut annual operational greenhouse gas emissions by 58% and annual energy use by 16% compared with Port of Seattle standards.
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