Designing a New Terminal for Post-Pandemic World

As the world continues to deal with the fallout of a deadly pandemic, many are wondering what the new normal will look like for life in general and, particularly, for air travel.

With Pittsburgh International Airport’s billion-dollar Terminal Modernization Program still in the design phase, and with delays in the construction schedule, leaders are using the opportunity to take a fresh look at the plans.

Because of current industry conditions resulting from COVID-19, Chief Development Officer Paul Hoback has asked the design team to consider how new health recommendations like social distancing, increased hand-washing and sanitizing, and wearing masks in public might prompt future changes to airport facilities.

“With our design at 60% complete, we’re in a good position to begin looking at the newest health standards and emerging trends to determine how we can be a leader in the post-pandemic world,” he said. “So, what does the terminal look like? How do we need to pivot on our current thinking to place public health at top of mind?”

These are not easy questions to answer.

In a 2013 report titled “Infectious Disease Mitigation in Airports and on Aircraft” by the Airports Cooperative Research Program, experts cited the unique challenges to public health posed by aviation.

“Airports and aircraft afford opportunities for disease transmission due to close human contact in queuing areas, sharing of restrooms, waiting areas and dining tables; and a high number of touched surfaces (e.g., kiosks, handrails, security bins). In addition, air travel highlights the interaction of large numbers of individuals from geographically diverse regions, with differing immunity and endemic diseases.”

It may be common sense that clean buildings play a role in improving public health, but it’s not always common practice, and solutions can be costly. However, the TMP has always been about right-sizing, operating more cost efficiently and improving the passenger experience.

Getting ‘WELL’

A WELL building is one designed with a focus on the health and wellness of the people in the building.

“The goal is to use the built environment and building systems to improve health of the occupants and capitalize on the increased savings and productivity generated through these improvements,” said Carolyn Sponza, senior associate at Gensler, one of the design firms working on the TMP.

The WELL building standard focuses on 10 concepts:  Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community.

The standard works in harmony with LEED certification for green and sustainable initiatives, which is already part of the TMP design. Large parts of the WELL Building Standard are based on building systems like HVAC, and both design and implementation are important.