Pittsburgh celebrated a major milestone with the ribbon cutting of its new $1.7 billion Pittsburgh International Airport terminal, marking the culmination of years of planning and collaboration among local, state, and federal partners. The project created 14,300 jobs, generated $2.5 billion in economic activity, and used no local tax dollars, underscoring its wide-reaching economic and community impact. Officials hailed the new terminal as both a symbol of Pittsburgh’s identity and a catalyst for continued growth in Pennsylvania.
The new terminal was designed by Gensler, HDR, and Luis Vidal + Architects, with PJ Dick/Hunt serving as the construction manager, Turner Construction Co. handled the parking garage and transportation complex, and Jacobs, Paslay Management Group, and Michael Baker International provided program design and management support.
Blue Sky News reported:
The project, which broke ground in 2021, was backed through unanimous support of PIT’s airline partners, which are covering majority of the $1.7 billion cost. No local tax dollars were used to fund the project.
The new terminal is the centerpiece of PIT’s transition from a hub connecting passengers from around the country to an origin-and-destination (O&D) airport tailored to better serve the Pittsburgh market.
Rather than being a hub with one dominant carrier, PIT has leveraged its airline relationships to diversify its air service portfolio by adding a plethora of legacy, low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers to align with its O&D strategy. In the past decade, the airport has increased its nonstop destination network from 36 destinations to 61 and expanded its airline count from seven carriers to 15.
The terminal is designed to capture the essence of the Pittsburgh region. The rolling roofline mimics the region’s hills, and its structural tree columns and terrazzo flooring’s intricate leaf patterns, created by artist Clayton Merrell, reflect the region’s forests.
Perhaps most striking is the terminal’s constellation lighting—featuring more than 4,000 lights—that emulates the night sky, creating a spectacular effect that is visible inside and outside of the building.
Unique among U.S. airports, the terminal includes four outdoor terraces—two pre-security and two post-security—giving travelers a chance to enjoy fresh air during their journey.
The new terminal has already delivered economic results to the region via jobs during its construction. Throughout the project, over 14,300 jobs were created with an estimated impact of $2.5 billion in economic activity and over $1 billion in direct labor income. Over 90 percent of the terminal’s labor and supplies were locally sourced, including the steel that supports its foundation.
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