Sea-Tac Rolls out Design for Central Terminal Expansion

Public, Port Commissioners, get first look at airport terminal of the future

(Seattle)--Port of Seattle Commissioners today got their first look at plans for an improved and expanded central terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A scale model of the proposed renovation was presented at the Commission's regularly scheduled work session.

"Along with all of the efficiencies and practical improvements this renovation will bring, it also returns the romance of aviation to our airport," said Gina Marie Lindsey, Sea-Tac's Managing Director of Aviation. "People will be able to sit in the terminal and watch airplanes take-off and land."

Completion of the $83.5 million project is scheduled for the spring of 2004. The project is funded entirely from aviation revenues. No tax dollars will be used.

Among the features to be contained in the renovated main terminal are:

A fully glassed-in west facade, providing a full view of Sea-Tac's operating airfield;
A combined security checkpoint, resulting in shorter lines and a faster trip to departure gates;
An expanded ticketing level, to reduce crowding at busy times; and
"Pacific Place," shops and restaurants with a northwest theme.

Visible work will begin in September, with the relocation of some airport services out of the initial construction zone. Lindsey said keeping services running during construction is probably the single biggest challenge in doing this renovation.

"This is like remodeling a football stadium while the Super Bowl is being played inside. Nearly 28-million people a year use this airport, and we're committed to giving them top notch service during this work," Lindsey said.

While the airport's goal is no reduction in service quality during renovation, the final product will certainly bring improvement.

Travelers will definitely notice the convenience of the expanded ticketing area. The updated design will keep long ticketing lines from restricting movement through the terminal.

Changes to the airport's security checkpoints will be especially valuable. By combining the B & C checkpoints at one central site, workload will be better balanced. No longer will one checkpoint be empty, while the other has a long line of waiting travelers.

Mike Ehl is manager of the Sea-Tac's Air Terminal Line of Business. He is especially excited about the planned Pacific Place, a Pacific Northwest based shopping and restaurant mall.

"We are going to bring businesses here that you'd see on any other Western Washington street. The days of the generic airport cafeteria are long gone," Ehl said.

Specific shops and vendors have not yet been determined, Ehl said. But he stressed that bids will be sought from those firms which already have an established presence in the northwest.

It is one part of the airport's $2.6 billion World Class Upgrade that includes a third runway, an expanded Concourse A, reconstruction of the subway system which serves the airports north and south satellites, and more than 100 other projects.

Note to Editors: An available press kit includes video B-roll and 35mm slides suitable for reproduction. Images in other formats can also be obtained. For more information contact Bob Parker, Sea-Tac Media Relations Officer, (206) 431-4923.