International Arrivals Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
International Arrivals Facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
ARCHITECTS
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
MAIN CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Clark Construction Group
MANUFACTURERS
Terrazzo & Marble
ENGINEERING CONSULTING
Integrated Design Engineers (Ide)
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING COMPANY
Schlaich Bergermann Partner, Magnusson Klemencic Associates
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
PHOTOGRAPHS
Lucas Blair Simpson, Dave Burk
AREA
450000 Ft²
YEAR
2022
LOCATION
Seattle, United States
CATEGORY
Airport
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.
