Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal C

Introduction

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For many travelers, the thought of being at an airport can bring on a list of potential headaches: security issues, missed flights, poor food choices, lost luggage—and more. That’s why the team behind the building of George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s new Terminal C, a partnership between the airport and United Airlines, took on the endeavor with a mission to create a more positive experience for travelers.

The  Story

With more than 40 million travelers departing and arriving through its five terminals annually, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the 15th busiest airport in the nation. Because the airport is ceaselessly active, the architect and engineering teams knew that closing the old Terminal C would not be feasible in order to make way for a new facility. Project managers developed an intricate system allowing the existing terminal to remain functional and minimize disruption while the new, 318,000 square foot terminal was built next to it. This allowed the designing minds behind the project the time to envision and create a thoroughly modern passenger experience for the new terminal.

Throughout the new terminal that accommodates eleven new and three renovated gates, the design team incorporated large expanses of windows to provide panoramic views for passengers and visitors. Instead of the rows and rows of seating, the new terminal features holdrooms with tech-enhanced, lounge-style seating with USB ports and iPads ready for guests to order food and amenities. In addition, the designers created an alternative to the typical long, monotonous hallway-style terminals found in most airports. In the north concourse, passengers follow a meandering path that guides traffic flow toward departure gates interspersed with more than 20 new dining and retail options. To reinforce the meandering concept, an LED lighting design varies and incorporates blue colors, and the roof clerestory windows allow a mix of natural daylight to the center of the 117-foot wide space.

In selecting a material to adorn the walls of these reimagined corridors, the project architects and interior designers sought to specify a modern product that would provide durability, ease of maintenance, be impact resistant, and still be aesthetically pleasing. They also looked for a material that would provide a more consistent appearance than natural stone. Ultimately, they chose Crossville Porcelain Tile Panels by Laminam. Covering more than 11,000 square feet, Crossville’s tile panels in Oxide and Filo hit all the technical and aesthetic marks for the expansive space. The porcelain tile panel’s nuanced metallic details and colors proved to coordinate beautifully with the blue hues in the LED lighting and the terrazzo-style flooring.

Because the Crossville tile panels are 1m x 3m in outer dimensions, they were easy for the installers to work with. The installation team successfully installed more square footage in less time – crucial for a project running on a tight schedule and happening amidst the blur of thousands of passengers going through the space daily.