Prestigious International Organization Selects PIT Among World’s Most Beautiful

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal is officially one of the most beautiful in the world, as recognized by a key international organization.

France-based Prix Versailles announced Monday that Pittsburgh International Airport was named to its World’s Most Beautiful Airports list, joining six other airports from around the world. The honor is one of the world’s most prestigious architecture and design recognitions and is presented in association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO.

“Whether they have newly appeared on the horizon or undergone a major renovation, contemporary airports and airport terminals are innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras,” Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles said of this year’s honorees. “They are innovative, because they resolve the apparent conflict between the increasing frequency of travel and the need for speed – both central to an airport’s purpose – on the one hand and, on the other, the singularity of a form of tourism that aims to be accessible and that values people’s time in places that, in this day and age, can no longer be described as mere ‘transfer’ spaces.

“And they are inescapable, in that this infrastructure leaves a lasting environmental footprint on the land but also on the history of humanity: in the amalgamation of architecture that they display, airports are becoming attractive settings, emblems of economic, cultural and social dynamics that will continue to shape the societies of tomorrow, draw them together and unify them.”

Three airports and/or airport terminals from the 2026 list will also receive a World Title (Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior), to be awarded at the end of the year.

“Being named to the Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airports List is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the vision, talent and determination of everyone who helped bring our new terminal to life,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport. “This terminal was built by Pittsburghers, for Pittsburgh. It showcases our region’s innovation, craftsmanship and hospitality while creating an airport experience that reflects the character and pride of our community.”

Prix Versailles officials wrote that PIT’s vast undulating roofline is evocative of the nearby mountains, and that the airport stands as the region’s newest emblem, symbolizing its ambitions of innovation and sustainable construction.

Drafted by Gensler and HDR in association with luis vidal + architects, its design celebrates the natural landscape, with biophilic integrations blurring the line between indoors and out. Thirty-eight steel columns shaped like trees create a familiar, warm canopy reminiscent of the region’s forests. Inclusive of 100,000 square feet of glass walls, the space is flooded with natural light, while four outdoor terraces will soon offer travelers access to fresh air.

Representative of the region’s heritage, showcasing local artists and the new Skybridge and tunnel (inspired by the Fort Pitt Tunnel), the airport is worthy of praise for its energy efficiency, its significantly shortened passenger distances and its inclusive comfort features, making it a role model for global air travel, Prix Versailles officials wrote in their public recognition.

In addition to PIT, the list includes:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Terminal 3
  • Guangzhou, China
• Frankfurt Airport, Terminal 3
  • Frankfurt, Germany
• Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Terminal 2
  • Guwahati, India
• Navi Mumbai International Airport, Terminal 1
  • Navi Mumbai, India
• Techo International Airport
  • Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• San Diego International Airport, Terminal 1
  • San Diego, United States

“This Prix Versailles recognition fills all of us Pittsburghers with immense pride. Pittsburgh is a city of extraordinary history: it produced much of the steel that built the modern world, gave rise to cultural institutions of global significance, and, along with the region, has repeatedly reinvented itself with remarkable resilience,” said Luis Vidal, founder and President, luis vidal + architects.

“Our task was to honor this legacy and translate it into architectural form. The new terminal blends seamlessly into Pittsburgh’s landscape, celebrating it. From the very first day, we designed the terminal to belong equally to the city and to the natural territory surrounding it, becoming a two-way extension – an extension to the city and an extension to the landscape. We created an elegant, transformative home for everyone in Pittsburgh, guided by NaTeCo (Nature, Technology, and Community), the values that define Pittsburgh and shaped every decision we made.”

Opened in November 2025, the $1.7 billion terminal modernization project transformed PIT into a more efficient, intuitive and welcoming airport experience while creating a new front door for the Pittsburgh region. The 811,000-square-foot facility incorporates sustainable design elements, local inspiration and passenger-focused innovations throughout the facility.

“Airports are where people form their first and last impressions of a place. The new terminal at PIT proves that aviation projects at scale can be genuinely beautiful and deeply local, while at the same time forward-thinking,” said Carolyn Sponza, Principal and Pittsburgh Studio Lead at Gensler.

“Gensler works on airports all over the world, and what we achieved here with the Allegheny County Airport Authority, HDR, and luis vidal + architects is something we’re genuinely proud to hold up as a model for the industry. Prix Versailles recognizes projects that transcend their functional brief, and that’s exactly what this terminal does: it doesn’t just move people through a building, it welcomes them into a region. To be named among the world’s most beautiful airports by an organization affiliated with UNESCO is a reflection of the expertise and craft of the people who made this project. We are honored to have been a part of it,” she said.

The Prix Versailles recognition further cements PIT as a global leader in airport innovation and design. As the front door to the region, PIT continues to redefine what an airport can be—serving as an economic engine, a showcase for Pittsburgh and a model for the future of aviation infrastructure.

“The new Pittsburgh International Airport conveys a sense of place and welcomes Pittsburgh residents and visitors alike in a way that could only happen here, driven by the world-class vision of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, developed by a world-class team of designers and construction managers, and built by the people of this region,” said Bill Peduzzi, Senior Vice President, Aviation Market Sector Director at HDR. “The new airport reflects Pittsburgh’s impressive heritage as well as its future as a region that brings the best ideas together. It shows that tomorrow can be better than today, and that if you want to be a part of building the world of tomorrow, that journey goes through PIT.”

The Prix Versailles recognizes outstanding contemporary projects that combine architectural Innovation; creativity; integration of local, cultural and Natural Heritage; environmental performance and sustainability; and passenger experience and social interaction.

The award honors exceptional achievements across several categories, including Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Museums, Emporiums, Hotels and Restaurants.

In the Airports category, Prix Versailles celebrates terminals and airport facilities that transcend their functional role to become landmarks of architectural quality, passenger experience and environmental responsibility, highlighting designs that enhance both the traveler journey and the broader public realm.

This honor is the latest in a series of local and national awards for PIT, including Innovative Solutions for Universal Design Certification from the University at Buffalo Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access and the Uber 2025 Airport Smartest Space award.