Airport Experience® News - ACDBE Issue 2025

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balance of its new facilities by early 2028. The program is funded by a combination of General Airport Revenue Bonds, as well as smaller contributions of airport cash and capital grants, with bonds repaid from airline revenue, parking, concessions, ground transportation fees and land rent, Hall says. The New Terminal 1, designed by Gensler and built by joint venture Turner-Flatiron , will not only feature 30 gates (11 more than currently offered in Terminal 1) and 90,000 square feet of concessions space, but also a 13-lane security checkpoint; expanded passenger seating; a designated children’s play area; two airline or common-use lounges and a post-security outdoor plaza with views of the San Diego Bay. The facility will also feature several works by local artists throughout the space, as well as a glass façade located in the ticketing hall known as the

“Luminous Wave”, which will combine form and function by reducing sun glare and heat build-up through its curved glass panels. The terminal’s design, says Gensler principal architect Terence Young, “takes inspiration from the community around San Diego: it’s a modern expression of the melting pot of cultures, foods, artistic expression, bold technology and the strong environmental stewardship of its people. From the new sculpture garden forecourt to the curated seating at the gates, the new T1 invites both customers and employees to customize their journey to be whatever they want it to be: invigorating, relaxing, exploratory, inspiring, or focused,” he says. The team at SAN has taken careful measures to ensure that the New Terminal 1 is built with sustainability in mind, adds Hall, noting that “sustainability is at the

heart of everything we do at SAN.” With goals to achieve LEED Gold certification, the new terminal is being built in accordance with the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, including measures to reduce airfield emissions, an underground fuel-delivery system to eliminate the need for aircraft fueling trucks, an expanded stormwater capture and reuse system and resilient design to address future sea-level rise. The terminal will also be powered by 100 percent carbon-free electricity, will feature charging for more than 250 electric vehicles (with an additional 250 EV-ready spaces), will include an all-electric shuttle service to and from the nearby Old Town Transit Center as well as a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path and bicycle parking spaces along North Harbor Drive. Outside the facility, travelers will be able to access the terminal via a new, three-lane on-airport entry roadway designed to reduce traffic from the busy North Harbor Drive as well as enjoy a state-of-the-art parking plaza and dual-level departures and arrivals roadway, adds Hall. Airport leaders are also planning ahead for the possibility of a future public transportation station, having set aside a walking-distance area suitable for regional transportation facilities. Concessions Upgrade Once travelers arrive at the New Terminal 1, they’ll have plenty of dining and shopping options to choose from, says Hall, noting that once complete, the facility will boast 21 food and beverage concepts as well as nine convenience and specialty retail stores from concessionaires High Flying Foods , Areas USA , Paradies Lagardère , WHSmith North America , Emerging Domestic Market Ventures Inc. , and McDonald’s USA, in concert with several joint venture partners. The terminal’s dining and retail options represent an assorted array of well-known national and local brands. High Flying Foods will operate Better Buzz coffee, Parfait Paris, Market Hall, and San Diego-based The Taco Stand, Ambrosio 15 pizza, Cutwater Bar and

Top Left: The new terminal at SAN will feature 30 gates (up from 19) and more spacious corridors and gate areas.

Left: Taking advantage of San Diego’s typically stellar weather, the new Terminal 1 will offer a post-security outdoor plaza with views of the San Diego Bay.

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AX NEWS JUNE 2025