Terminal Expansion Releases
TIA Concourse Expansion Project




TIA brings in 2005 with a $65 million terminal expansion project three months ahead of schedule and nearly $500,000 under budget.

Begun in 2002, the 82,000 sq. ft. addition gives passengers and tenants alike much needed breathing room. Formerly cavernous and claustrophobic, baggage claim has been transformed with the addition of 56,000 sq. ft., large and efficient luggage conveyors. Not only was floor space added, but so was light. It streams into the first level of the terminal through a wall of windows fronting on the street as well as light wells cut into the floor above.

Upstairs, elbow-to-elbow queues in ticketing are a thing of the past. With over 27,000 sq. ft. of space on the second floor there's room aplenty for ticketing kiosks and travelers. A grand circulation "spine" runs the length of the remodeled space contained in four barrel vaulted structures that define the architectural theme.

Airport visitors got a peek at what awaited when the $16.5 million rental car building opened in 2002. The lavender Venetian plaster ceilings, Terrazzo floors, brushed stainless steel columns and counters, Indian sandstone and bottle green glass are repeated in the terminal - a short moving sidewalk ride away.

A design that allowed for the 18,000 sq. ft. rental car building and adjacent three level, 2200 car parking garage to reside within walking distance of the terminal is one of many passenger conveniences.

Other amenities include monitors displaying real time flight information; bright signs in the building’s signature periwinkle color palette; a visual as well as audio paging system; airline baggage offices located right next to the bag belts; and the same short walking distances to the parking lot out front.

Outside on the curb skycaps greet passengers behind gleaming stainless steel counters and for now visitors can still drop off and pick up passengers in front of the building – as long as they don’t leave their vehicles. Two commercial roadways make it easier for to find shuttles, taxis and public buses.

Desert landscaping, the last piece of the project, will be installed later in the Spring. The saguaro cactus forest promises to be a knockout.

With the expansion – along with plans to remodel the concourses – expected to begin by late 2005, capacity increases to over seven million passengers annually and will meet Tucson’s aviation needs for the next 20-30 years.

Sundt Construction was the contractor for the project, which was designed by HNTB Corp. and Gresham & Beach. Larry Zukowski and Guy Greene designed the landscaping. Funding is being provided by passenger facility charges.