Airport Experience® News - 20 Years of the AX Conference

Left: As airports have become increasingly focused on reflecting the regions that they serve, local art has become an important feature of many airport designs. For example, Vancouver International Airport has a major Northwest Coast indigenous art collection on display throughout its terminals. Photos courtesy of Stantec Architecture

Today’s most lauded airports are indeed those with concessions programs that are reflective of the surrounding city or region and the people they serve. “Today, we look more favorably on local flavors, be it food, beverage or retail, whereas 20 years ago most airports only featured large, nationally recognizable chains within their terminals,” Populous’ Ax says. “Progressive airports today more commonly feature food market halls that create experiential opportunities for different tastes of people and that mirror local venues, restaurants and entertainment.” Stantec’s Fereidooni points out that standing out as a regional gateway goes beyond cuisine. “Art programs, which were previously only used as an afterthought, have become central aesthetic and organizing features in both new and existing terminals,” he says. “For example, YVR initiated a major Northwest Coast indigenous art collection, curated by the independent non-profit YVR Art Foundation . These features serve as organizing landmarks, points of interest and cultural identifiers for the terminal.” Soaring Costs With more innovative designs often come higher buildout costs, and the past 20 years have seen costs go off the charts. “We quoted buildout prices in the low- to mid-hundreds of dollars per square foot 20 years ago; we’re currently looking at costs in the $1,500-to-$2,000 range per square foot, particularly on the West Coast and New York area,” says Alan Gluck, senior manager of global aviation commercial advisory for ICF . “Things were simpler 20 years ago. “While some airports, notably SFO, had strict design standards even back then, many airports lacked many guidelines for designing concession facilities,” he continues. “Of course, construction costs were significantly lower and designs for concessions seemed more straightforward and less complex than they are now.”

“Twenty years ago, the driver for terminals was the ability to process passengers quicker; in the subsequent years, terminal developments have begun to view terminals as a more direct extension of the region that they serve, and the term ‘sense of place’ has crept into each development,” Osbaugh adds. “Our work at San Francisco in 2010 highlighted that concept, and airports throughout the country began to look for ways to infuse a new local ness into their developments.” “Sense Of Place” Takes Hold Nick Baker, CEO and creative director for SmartDesign Group , says the only guiding airport design strategy that has stood the test of time in recent years has been the “sense of place” concept. “Almost every airport around the world has engaged this as their primary pillar to cement a culture of difference,” he says. “Twenty-plus years ago, most landlords still shared the same cookie-cutter approach to retail, presenting in-line stores within a generic-looking terminal or concourse, and guidelines were controlled and focused on providing

a homogenous environment. However, airport authorities and their shareholders began to put more emphasis on the true value of non-aeronautical revenue, and this started a new evolution that was the forerunner of today’s goal to enhance and captivate passenger experience.” Baker says that in North America, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and YVR were pioneering airports in introducing “placemaking” concepts and brands to cement their “localism.” “In the past decade, SFO has also become an airport that has embraced new visionary innovation and remained true to their commitment to local, allowing opportunities for Bay Area brands and businesses to operate side-by-side the big players,” Baker adds. But Baker points out that it is possible to overthink the “sense of place” approach. “That has always remained a challenge and some landlords and their architects really did go beyond the realms of instilling a cultural connection,” he opines. “Unfortunately, the focus was to replicate iconic landmarks, streets and destinations within a faux environment, resulting in a pastiche solution that missed the mark. In contrast, ‘sense of place’ today means a mix of art, entertainment, media and local concepts to create a unique experience for the passenger and employees.”

Left: SmartDesign Group’s Nick Baker says the rising costs of construction in airport terminals is “not a sustainable economic model.”

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AX NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024