New Pittsburgh Airport Terminal Draws International Accolades

PITTSBURGH, PA - Open for less than a year, the new Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal already is an internatinal award-winning building.

The Paris-based Prix Versailles, an organization that oversees a series of architectural competitions that emphasize the finest contemporary projects worldwide, named the new terminal among the world's best contemporary airport projects.

“Whether they have newly appeared on the horizon or undergone a major renovation, contemporary airports and airport terminals are innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras," Jerome Gouadain, Prix Versailles secretary general, said in a statement.

The $1.7 billion terminal opened last November. Here's what Prix Versailles had to say about it:

"With its vast undulating roof line evocative of the nearby Allegheny Mountains, Pittsburgh International Airport stands as the city’s newest emblem, symbolizing its ambitions of innovation and sustainable construction.

"Drafted by Gensler and HDR in association with luis vidal + architects, its design celebrates the natural landscape, with biophilic integrations blurring the line between indoors
and out.

"Thirty-eight steel columns shaped like trees create a familiar, warm canopy reminiscent of the region’s forests. Propped up by glass walls, the space is flooded with natural light, while four outdoor terraces will soon offer travelers access to fresh air."

"Representative of the region’s heritage, showcasing local artists and the new 'Petal Tunnel' (inspired by the Fort Pitt Tunnel), the airport is worthy of praise for its energy efficiency, its significantly shortened passenger distances and
its inclusive comfort features, making it a role
model for global air travel."

In addition to the Pittsburgh Terminal, other airports on the list include:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Terminal 3
  • Guangzhou, China
• Frankfurt Airport, Terminal 3
  • Frankfurt, Germany
• Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Terminal 2
  • Guwahati, India
• Navi Mumbai International Airport, Terminal 1
  • Navi Mumbai, India
• Techo International Airport
  • Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• San Diego International Airport, Terminal 1
  • San Diego, United States