Gensler Transforms San Diego International Airport With New Terminal 1, Setting A Global Benchmark For Sustainable And Experience-driven Airport Design

Published on September 23, 2025

San Diego International Airport (SAN) has unveiled nan first shape of its new Terminal 1, mounting a caller world benchmark for airdrome design. In business pinch Gensler, a world creation and architecture firm, and Turner-Flatiron, this transformative task redefines nan traveler acquisition astatine 1 of nan nation’s busiest single-runway commercialized airports. Opening pinch 19 gates, 17 caller concessions, and expanded amenities, nan caller terminal offers a cutting-edge, sustainable, and human-centered design, enhancing nan wide rider journey.

This milestone task importantly improves nan rider experience, providing a welcoming, stress-free, and environmentally-conscious abstraction that reflects Southern California’s earthy beauty. The creation incorporates abundant daylight, local materials, and expansive views, creating an ambiance that celebrates nan region’s civilization and minimizes traveler stress. With a attraction connected carbon-free operations, LEED v4 Silver certification, and reducing total power use by 20 percent, nan terminal sets caller sustainability standards for nan aviation industry.

Key Highlights of nan New Terminal 1:

• 19 Gates: The caller terminal increases capacity, improving operational ratio and serving much travelers.
• Sustainability: Operating connected 100 percent carbon-free electricity, pinch power simplification projections of 20 percent.
• Passenger Experience: The terminal features intuitive wayfinding, seamless connections, and a assortment of amenities to guarantee comfort.
• Art and Design: A solid sheet façade, called Luminous Wave, serves arsenic nationalist creation and reduces power and glare, while acoustic treatments heighten information experiences.
• Expansion Plans: A 2nd phase, to beryllium completed by early 2028, will adhd 11 further gates to meet early demand.

Design Vision for a Human-Centered Experience

Gensler’s creation accuracy for Terminal 1 revolves astir creating an situation that offers some functional and artistic appeal. Terence Young, Principal and Design Director astatine Gensler, emphasized that nan terminal’s creation represents much than conscionable a functional space. “Airports are much than infrastructure; they are taste beforehand doors that bespeak nan personality of a city,” he said. The Terminal 1 task embodies Southern California’s tone done its usage of earthy elements, daylight, and innovative materials. Every creation constituent is meant to reduce stress and maximize comfort, from nan glass façade to nan wave-inspired acoustic treatments.

• Natural Light: Maximized earthy ray creates an open, airy atmosphere, reducing nan accepted harshness of indoor spaces astatine airports.
• Wave-Inspired Design: The fluid creation elements, specified arsenic triangular bracing columns, minimize obstructions wrong nan terminal and create a much open, navigable environment.
• Public Art: The “Luminous Wave” solid sheet façade, designed by artist James Carpenter, serves arsenic a nationalist creation portion while contributing to nan terminal’s power efficiency.

Sustainable Features of nan New Terminal 1

The caller terminal has been designed pinch sustainability arsenic a apical priority. San Diego International Airport is striving for LEED v4 Silver certification, pinch features that thief nan airdrome meet biology standards while reducing its c footprint. The terminal is afloat powered by carbon-free electricity, making it 1 of nan first airports to connection wholly sustainable power sources for its operations.

• Energy Efficiency: With energy use projected to alteration by 20 percent, nan terminal incorporates energy-efficient systems to trim depletion and minimize biology impact.
• Carbon-Free Operations: The facility’s committedness to operating connected 100 percent carbon-free electricity marks a important accomplishment successful airdrome sustainability.

Transportation and Access Enhancements

In summation to nan terminal’s interior and sustainable design, improvements person been made to nan transportation network astir nan airport. New entree roadways, a ground proscription plaza, and enhanced pedestrian walkways guarantee a smoother acquisition for travelers arriving and departing nan airport. These proscription upgrades amended nan wide accessibility of nan airport, offering easier connections to and from San Diego’s surrounding areas.

• New Access Roadways: The terminal’s updated entree roads streamline nan travel of postulation astir nan airport, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.
• Ground Transportation Plaza: The expanded plaza enhances nan presence acquisition and supports various modes of transport, from taxis to shuttle services.
• Pedestrian Walkways: New walkways supply a safer and much convenient way for travelers to navigate betwixt terminals and carrier hubs.

Future Growth: Second Phase of Terminal Expansion

The first phase of Terminal 1 is only nan opening of a larger description scheme for San Diego International Airport. A 2nd phase, scheduled for completion by early 2028, will adhd 11 much gates, providing further capacity to accommodate expanding rider demand. The expanded terminal will beryllium equipped pinch state-of-the-art facilities and proceed to stress rider comfortableness and sustainability.

• 11 Additional Gates: The 2nd shape of nan task will summation capacity by adding much gates to meet nan increasing request for recreation to and from San Diego.
• Enhanced Amenities: The 2nd shape will proceed to amended nan rider acquisition pinch caller eating options, relaxation areas, and further seating.

The Role of Gensler successful Shaping nan Future of Airports

Gensler, classed #1 successful nan U.S. for airdrome terminal and installation creation by Building Design + Construction, continues to group nan modular for global aviation design. With an eager portfolio of projects crossed major U.S. airports specified arsenic San Francisco, Los Angeles, JFK, Pittsburgh, and Dallas Fort Worth, Gensler is starring nan early of aerial recreation pinch innovative designs that prioritize sustainability, rider experience, and technological advancement.

As portion of its ongoing committedness to shaping nan early of aviation, Gensler’s activity astatine San Diego International Airport sets a caller modular for sustainable, experience-driven design that will service arsenic a exemplary for airports worldwide.

Conclusion: San Diego International Airport Sets a New Industry Standard

The new Terminal 1 astatine San Diego International Airport not only elevates nan traveler acquisition but besides establishes a caller benchmark for sustainable, experience-driven airdrome design. With its cutting-edge sustainability features, human-centered design, and attraction connected carbon-free operations, Terminal 1 is simply a testament to nan early of aerial travel. As San Diego continues to turn arsenic a cardinal destination, this translator will heighten its world connectivity, pull caller visitors, and amended nan value of life for some travelers and residents.

• Sustainable Design: The terminal operates connected carbon-free electricity and incorporates energy-efficient systems.
• Passenger Experience: Intuitive wayfinding, earthy light, and a assortment of amenities guarantee a stress-free and comfortable journey.
• Future Growth: A 2nd shape of description will adhd 11 much gates, supporting nan increasing request for aerial travel.

The business betwixt Gensler, Turner-Flatiron, and San Diego International Airport sets a caller world modular for airport design, prioritizing some sustainability and nan traveler experience, making it a exemplary for nan early of aviation.