From Kennywood to Acrisure Stadium: ‘Sounds of Pittsburgh’ Will Soon Be in the New Terminal

Travelers passing through Pittsburgh International Airport will soon experience an immersive new artwork that captures the region’s spirit through sound – in time for next week’s NFL Draft.

From Kennywood Park to the Duquesne Incline to Gus and YiaYia’s ice ball stand, Sounds of Pittsburgh is an audio installation by acclaimed artist Susan Narduli that will be fully installed and operating by next week.

Known internationally for her innovative work in sound and public art, Narduli brings Pittsburgh’s identity to life through an evocative auditory experience of nearly 400 different Pittsburgh sounds. The installation weaves a rich tapestry of sounds inspired by the region’s industrial heritage, natural environment and vibrant communities, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving sense of place for travelers.

Located within PIT’s pre-security public escalators, Sounds of Pittsburgh will be audible to passengers as they ride the escalators. The piece transforms everyday airport movement into a sensory journey, blending ambient tones, recorded elements and spatial audio design that responds to the architecture and flow of the space.

Sounds of Pittsburgh leverages the region’s sounds and real-time data to connect the city, the region and the community through an art experience. The sounds will be rotated through the airport and tailored to seasons and what is happening in the region concurrently – Acrisure Stadium sounds from Steelers games during football season, for example.

Listen to all of Susan Narduli’s sounds here

“This installation reflects Pittsburgh’s unique character—its history, its resilience and its innovation,” said Keny Marshall, Arts and Cultural Manager at Pittsburgh International Airport. “We are proud to showcase work by an artist of Susan Narduli’s caliber and to offer travelers a meaningful cultural experience the moment they arrive.”

“Sounds of Pittsburgh,” located at PIT’s pre-security escalators, turns a routine ride into a sensory journey through ambient, spatial audio shaped by the airport’s architecture and flow. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)

A call for sounds asked the public to identify the sounds that make Pittsburgh home. The outreach resulted in a library of sounds made of field recordings and submissions from individuals and institutions. Modifications to sounds by custom algorithms inspire the composition’s narrative, structure and thematic element. An intelligent timeline uses incoming data to inform the sequencing of the artwork and create a new way of storytelling.

The installation is part of Pittsburgh International Airport’s broader Terminal Modernization Program, which integrates art and design throughout the passenger experience. Sounds of Pittsburgh joins a growing collection of public artworks that highlight regional and international artists, reinforcing PIT’s role as both a transportation hub and a cultural gateway.

Narduli leads Narduli Studio, an interdisciplinary design practice based in Los Angeles. The studio works at the intersection of art, technology and architecture, focusing on experience-driven public spaces and immersive media installations. Their work includes public art, architectural installations, virtual environments and interactive experiences that blend physical and virtual realms.

The airport’s curated art collection features pieces from both nationally recognized artists and local talent, reflecting the Pittsburgh region’s innovation, resilience and rich artistic heritage.

WATCH: Art in the Transformed PIT Unveiled

The transformed PIT is designed to provide a reflection of the Pittsburgh region’s natural and historic environments, enhancing the airport’s connection with its surroundings. Taking these elements of reflection and connection within the airport’s design even further is PIT’s Art in the Airport program, which contributes to a more insightful, enriching airport experience by infusing a sense of place—region, community, people, Pittsburgh—into air travel.

The Art in the Airport program is thoughtfully distinct, offering work at 30 locations throughout PIT’s campus, most of which was created by artists from the Pittsburgh region.