Richmond International Airport

JAeffersonian rchitecture meets

21st century air travel A long-standing relationship culminates with an inspiring, progressive centerpiece and an elegant expression of a city’s heritage.

A metropolitan airport is much more than just a transportation venue—it is often an air traveler’s first and last impression of the city.

Architecturally, it can symbolize the region’s character and history. Economically, it can influence business relocation and convention planning, making it a potential major source of revenue for the area.

In the early 1990s, Richmond

International Airport (RIC) was having difficulty filling these roles. Its facilities were outdated, and gate space was completely leased out, leaving no room to attract low-cost carriers.

Consequently, its fares were among the highest in the nation, causing it to lose about one million travelers annually to other airports in the region.

With the aviation industry experiencing moderate growth, Richmond was well positioned to benefit by upgrading and expanding their facilities.

In 1994, the Capital Region Airport Commission engaged GS&P to provide long-range programming and development plans for the airport campus. Since that time, GS&P has executed more than a dozen significant projects to help improve upon nearly every aspect of the airport. This has included significant concourse expansions and renovations, multiple new and expanded parking structures, a new bi-level curbside roadway system, comprehensive campus-wide signage and wayfinding, and a new remote central utilities plant.

The work at RIC came to its highly anticipated pinnacle in July 2007 when the new terminal building was dedicated. This cornerstone of the airport’s expansion and renovation program provides two levels and 160,000 square feet of ticketing, baggage claim and concessions space. Floors of magnificent terrazzo form beautiful geometric

“There is a striking and elegant new front façade that makes being dropped off a pleasure visually...Architecturally, [it is] simple, sensible, dignified and unflashy.”

— Edwin Slipek, Jr. Reviewer for Richmond’s Style Weekly

patterns in well-balanced shades of blue, gray and mauve.

As a tribute to Jeffersonian architecture, the terminal boasts soaring 60-foot ceilings and striking elements such as a strong central core delineated with a white colonnade complimented by symmetrical wings. The contextual use of red brick and other materials gives way to a steel and glass canopy which transitions to large expanses of glass culminated by a gently vaulted roof.

The new terminal has not only made travel easier but also more memorable with architectural elements that are as representative of Virginia as they are of air travel. Construction of the terminal took 26 months to complete, an impressive feat considering that the new terminal was built immediately in front of the existing terminal without adversely impacting the ongoing operations of the airport or airlines.

Fourteen years after the Capital Region Airport Commission and GS&P started planning, the new terminal at Richmond International Airport now supports nine airlines with plenty of room for additional carriers. The airport currently boasts some of the lowest airfares in the nation, and passenger traffic is steadily increasing. Maybe of most significance, the new terminal adeptly fills its role by welcoming air travelers, introducing them to Richmond as an historic city of elegance, timeless architecture and 21st century ambition. â–

17986.00 Richmond International Airport Richmond, Virginia Architecture, Interior Design Sustainable Practice 2000 Merit Award/AIA Richmond Chapter 2003 Honor Award/AIA Richmond Chapter 2004 Honor Award National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association 2008 Best Commercial Project/Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate 2008 Merit Award/AIA Tampa Bay Chapter

Gresham, Smith and Partners provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients. For more than 40 years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within communities. GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consultants in Environmental Compliance, Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Services. GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the United States. For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.

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