Location: Kansas City, USA.

Architect: SOM.

The new terminal at Kansas City International Airport will open with assistance from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Kansas City Aviation Department, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, developer Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate, and design-builder Clark | Weitz | Clarkson (CWC) (KCI). The 1.1 million square foot terminal elevates the airport into a location that is welcoming and open to everyone while embodying the vibrant culture of the area. The I-shaped structure has two levels: the higher level is for outgoing passengers, while the lower level is for arriving passengers. Each level has a separate entrance road and kerb. Domestic and international traffic is handled by the 39 gates, and thanks to the facility’s configuration, 11 more gates may be added in the future. To facilitate movement across the building, SOM created a plan that is intuitive and easy to navigate.

SOM worked with representatives from Edgemoor, CWC, and KCAD to design a terminal that would be friendly, convenient, and comfortable for everyone. Every gate counter, check-in location, and information desk is situated to a wheelchair-accessible height in accordance with a local resolution that called for the terminal to be “the most accessible in the world” The entrance is a warm, well-lit area with a substantial overhang, a glass facade, and Y-columns that are structurally expressive. The new concourses’ interiors are decorated with cosy materials, and their floors are covered in vibrant mosaics. The airport in Kansas City is the country’s first and biggest LEED v4 GOLD BD+C: NC terminal/concourse project. It is completely powered by electricity, and a solar farm will be constructed to convert all airport operations to green energy. The master plan also includes a comprehensive conservation strategy that maintains native trees and grasses from KCI’s original construction.