International Arrivals Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
International Arrivals Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
ARCHITECTS
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
AREA
450000 Ft²
CATEGORY
Airport
YEAR
2022
PHOTOGRAPHS
Lucas Blair Simpson, Dave Burk
MANUFACTURERS
Terrazzo & Marble
MAIN CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Clark Construction Group
LOCATION
Seattle, United States
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING COMPANY
Schlaich Bergermann Partner, Magnusson Klemencic Associates
ENGINEERING CONSULTING
Integrated Design Engineers (Ide)
ENGINEERING TEAM
KPFF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC., MUSGROVE ENGINEERING, P.A., EIDAM & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING ENGINEERS
ARCHITECTURE OFFICE
THE MILLER HULL PARTNERSHIP, EHDD
ACCESSIBLE DESIGN CONSULTING
STANTEC
DESIGN TEAM
ARUP
SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING
Pae Engineering
Text description provided by architect.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) led the design team, replacing a 50-year-old arrivals facility with a dynamic structure nearly five times bigger, dramatically improving the passenger experience.
The IAF comprises an aerial walkway—the longest of its kind in the world—a Grand Hall, and a secure corridor to increase the number of international-capable gates.
Arriving international passengers are immersed in the landscape of the Pacific Northwest as they cross the soaring aerial walkway with 360-degree views of Mount Rainier, and the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.
The walkway spans 780 feet across an active taxi lane, creating a rare moment for passengers to watch planes pass underneath.
“It is magnificent from an architectural perspective,'' said Washington Governor Jay Inslee at the project reveal. “That the walkway is a working piece of art.”
The walkway connects to IAF’s Grand Hall - an expansive, light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows.
The building’s sweeping roofline tilts and arcs reflect the motion of a landing airplane.
Site-specific artworks include “Magnetic Anomaly,” a set of three kinetic artworks created by Ned Kahn, suspended overhead and a colorful five-piece sculpture by Marela Zacarías, “Chalchiutlicue,” which floats above baggage claim carousels.
The interior design references elements of the Pacific Northwest–its plant life, terrain, and topography. The Grand Hall features a terrazzo floor with local stones, and entry portals lined with Douglas fir.
Passengers depart the Passport Control area, alongside a small forest of evergreen trees, which culminates at ground level in a landscaped creek with native ferns and plantings nestled between granite slabs.
A new secure international corridor along the face of the existing A Concourse allows eight international wide-body aircraft gates direct access to the IAF, with dual-use for domestic flights, bolstering the building’s future flexibility.
SEA is the nation’s first major hub airport to roll out ‘Bags First,’ a streamlined Customs and Border Protection entrance process.
