This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Feb. 18, 2010 - Lambert St. Louis Airport is shutting down two smaller concourses and revamping the remaining A and C concourses, as part of what St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has billed "the most extensive renovation of its terminal ever."
"These projects will breathe new life into the facility while preserving its history," said Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge in her announcement Thursday afternoon offering details of the two-year, $50 million renovation that is part of Lambert's "Airport Experience Program."
"This plan demonstrates Lambert’s commitment to enhance the passenger experience and enhance our competitive position, given that the airport is our region’s most important economic asset," Hamm-Niebruegge added.
The first phase of the renovations includes moving to the larger C concourse all the airlines that now use the B and D concourses. Those airlines include AirTran and Frontier.
Lambert spokesman Jeff Lea said the aim is to put all Lambert passengers as close as possible to the shops and restaurants, which already are virtually all on A and C.
The airlines moved onto C will take some of the gates being vacated by American Airlines, which has been reducing the number of flights it offers out of Lambert.
Lambert officials have yet to decide what to do wth the B and D concourses, the spokesman said.
Once all airlines are moved to their appropriate places, Lambert will then begin what's called "a major visual transformation of the A and C concourses."
The aim of the renovations is to realign airline and passenger traffic, while highlighting the dramatic architecture of Lambert's main terminal, designed by Minoru Yamasaki in 1956 and, as Slay points out on his blog, long seen as "one of the most familiar buildings in St. Louis."
By this fall, the main terminal will be officially named Terminal One, while what's now known as the East Terminal (and which handles Southwest and some smaller airlines and charters) will be renamed Terminal Two.
The renaming will be marked by the installation of 200 exterior signs along the roads serving the airport, to make Lambert easier to navigate. The new signs are the last phase of an earlier renovation project, but will coincide with the beginning of the more expansive improvements.
Soon-to-be-named Terminal Two will not be otherwise affected by the renovation.
As Slay and Hamm-Niebruegge explained, the $50 million renovation's most visible changes this year will be the improvements in Terminal One of the A and C concourses.
According to airport officials, "The interior roof structure of the concourses and all metal surfaces (doors, columns, air supply ducts) will be painted to coordinate with new tile flooring, new ceilings and a more efficient circular pendant lighting system. All concourse restrooms will be updated with terrazzo flooring, new wall tile, new countertops and sink fixtures. The airport will also install new signage and directories."
Said Slay: "Combined with earlier work on the terminal’s domes and new signage throughout the airport area, our landmark terminal, currently starring in a major movie, should look spectacular."
The mayor is referring, of course, to "Up in the Air,'' the Oscar-nominated movie that stars also-nominated George Clooney and was filmed largely in St. Louis. Lambert has a starring role, with various parts of the terminal standing in for airports all over the country.
At one point, Clooney also offers up a brief soliloquy about the historic importance of Lambert and its architecturally significant main terminal.
Other renovations that are part of the $50 million project include:
- Installing new ticket counters and terrazzo flooring on the upper level, with more open public views to outside.
- New baggage claim restrooms; renovation of existing restrooms.
- Upgrading the C Concourse checkpoint "to accommodate latest passenger screening equipment."
- Raising the ceilings on the terminal's lower level and installing brighter ceiling treatments and lights.
- Adding an atrium to connect ticketing and lower levels.
- Creating "a dedicated performance area in lower level'' to be called "St. Louis Stage."
- Incorporating "new interactive and static art displays in renovated areas."
Slay and Hamm-Niebruegge say the renovations will involve close to 150 construction workers and an estimated 392,000 man hours.
The new outside signs are part of $20 million in earlier projects, including the installation of a new baggage system in the main terminal and the restoration of its domed ceilings, which now feature skylights.
According to the airport, "The signage project has received an additional $200,000 contribution from St. Louis’ Regional Business Council for additional roadway improvements, such as painted sign structures, guardrails, street lights and fencing."
