After more than four years of construction and a decade of planning and preparation, the new, $1.7 billion Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) officially has opened. Designed by Gensler + HDR in association with luis vidal + architects, is designed to serve Western Pennsylvania and its passengers, while creating a model of innovation and operational resilience in a rapidly evolving air travel landscape.
“This new terminal is both a bold statement to the world about what an airport can be — and a love letter to our community,” said PIT CEO Christina Cassotis. “From architecture that reflects our region to an industry-first microgrid that makes PIT energy self-sufficient, this new terminal is emblematic of Pittsburgh’s modern innovation economy and its determination to set the standard and lead.”
The new PIT replaces an outmoded terminal built for a different era and a single airline. Today’s terminal is designed as an origin-and-destination airport — one where passengers begin and end their journey in Pittsburgh —accommodating 15 airlines and their business and passenger needs. The facility was constructed with no local or state taxpayer dollars.
It redefines the role of an airport as a regional economic engine and technology incubator, including Neighborhood 91, the world’s first airport-based additive manufacturing campus, and PIT’s microgrid, which utilizes on-site natural gas reserves to achieve total energy self-sufficiency — a first for a major airport.
“The opening of PIT’s new terminal represents a significant investment in the future of airport infrastructure and the passenger experience for the Pittsburgh region and the global aviation system,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International–North America. “Christina Cassotis and the entire team at PIT have delivered an impressive, modern facility that raises the bar for efficiency, passenger experience and accessibility across the airport industry. By expanding security screening capacity, integrating advanced technology, and enhancing accessibility features, this project reflects how airports are adapting to meet the evolving needs of travelers and the communities they serve.”
The new terminal offers one consolidated checkpoint with 12 TSA lanes – compared to seven at the main checkpoint today – featuring the latest TSA equipment and an automated bin return. The new baggage system cuts eight miles of bag belt down to three and offering significantly greater efficiency, with an expectation that time of baggage delivery will be cut in half. International arriving passengers will experience a more efficient and faster arrival, replacing a temporary fix in the old terminal that saw international passengers arrive airside.
The new 3,300-space parking garage features three times the amount of covered parking and the latest in parking technology, including digital signs with real-time counts of available spaces and green lights to indicate where open spots can be found. PIT also added the Terminal Lot, an approximate five-minute walk to the terminal’s front door. The Shuttle Lot, formerly comprised of the Long Term, Extended and Economy Lots, includes thousands of parking spaces and new, heated shelters with a real-time shuttle tracking system.
A rarity in U.S. airports, the new terminal will have four terraces – two pre-security and two post-security – allowing all passengers the opportunity for fresh air and a calm respite. Still under construction, the terraces will be landscaped with natural Western Pennsylvania landscapes. Travelers will see 20 new or refreshed concessions as part of the renovated airside terminal experience, including local favorites like Mineo’s Pizza and Café Conmigo with national brands such as Shake Shack, Jimmy John’s and more.
A terminal Skybridge connects the new landside terminal with the existing airside terminal. It makes for a quicker, more seamless connection from the security checkpoint to the airside terminal. Walking through the Skybridge is akin to journeying through a Pittsburgh street with lighting that mimics the region’s natural landscape, bringing the outside in.
For Pittsburgh passengers, the new airport experience doesn’t end after leaving the Skybridge. Over the past several years, the airside terminal has also undergone renovations, with modernized gate areas, updated and more spacious bathrooms, family restrooms, nursing lounges in each concourse and a new Core area.
The new, three-level, 811,000 square-foot terminal was designed to evoke the natural beauty and hardworking spirit of the region, and is a new, welcoming front door that connects the world to Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh to the world.
Designed by Gensler + HDR in association with luis vidal + architects, the terminal is guided by the principles of nature, technology and community (NaTeCo), integrating the region’s natural beauty, cutting-edge technological and medical research, and sense of pride in the community. This concept manifests in design elements that evoke rolling hills (roof form), forests (columns), and gardens (terraces), all exceptionally interwoven to provide a calming atmosphere and represent the region’s identity through architecture.
Designed by Gensler + HDR in association with Luis Vidal + Architects, the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal ushers in the next era of aviation for the region’s travelers and introduces a new front door to the Pittsburgh region. Photo Credit: Ema Peter
