Airport Business - 39

SEATING MATTERS
AUTHOR Pat Askew

Ready for Takeoff:
AIRPORTS BECOMING THE NEW LIFESTYLE HUBS
What will you need to consider to design a terminal that
will meet the needs of today and tomorrow?
IN RECENT years, architects and designers, like myself, have
been vocal advocates for integrating passenger experience
into airport design. Visit any new or recently renovated
terminal and one will find a bevy of projects that include
relatively simple, yet effective, passenger-focused features:
more local shops and restaurants, local artwork and exhibits,
more spots for passengers to plug-in. It's not only great for
the passenger but for the airports bottom lines as adding
amenities and choices are great for revenue.
So, what's next?
At HKS, as we think about the future, we
see a departure from passenger experience
to a more intense focus on passenger
lifestyle. People are making choices driven
by their physical, emotional and mental
well-being; therefore, we must focus on
how we can evolve the environment
beyond hospitality-oriented retail
amenities and concessions to designing
airports that are an extension of our
passengers' everyday lives and routines.
Travelers are diverse. But regardless
of their backgrounds, when they arrive
at the airport, their outside interests and
commitments arrive with them. And
unlike oversize baggage, those interests
aren't checked before arriving at the gate.
A working person on a business trip still
needs a space that is conducive to working.
Someone who is conscious about the
amount of exercise or standing for hours
before boarding a flight, will want to get
in as many steps in as possible. And kids,
well, are still kids wherever you are with
them. When we start thinking about
incorporating a lifestyle, it becomes clear
that we must create environments that
reflect a multitude of interests and routines.

What does this look like?
Driven by the need for early arrival or for
those that are transferring onto other flights,
coupled with the uncertainty of on time
travel, passengers often encounter prolonged
wait times. As we work to develop more
efficient security processes, travelers will
have increased time to enjoy activities they
might choose to do on a normal day out:
comfortable on-demand movie lounges or
small-scale cinemas, live music or theater
performances, participatory learning
installations and more.
Business travelers are not as productive
when they are forced to take the word
"laptop" literally. Most people try to
avoid cramped, crowded spaces. We don't
intentionally seek out and stand in long lines.
We don't sit shoulder to shoulder on rows
of uncomfortably tight chairs.
Designers can look forward to taking
advantage of having more airside space to
create efficient, private and quiet areas to
work set apart from the crowded, noisy gate
lounges and airline clubs. Investing in areas
for people to relax, play and exercise - such
as children's playgrounds, gyms, sleeping
pods, mini-golf, outdoor gardens and more
- will pay dividends in both revenue and

user satisfaction.
Incorporating passenger lifestyle
elements into airports already is happening.
One of our current projects, in partnership
with Woods Bagot, is San Francisco
International Airport (SFO) Terminal 1
Boarding Area B, scheduled for completion
in 2023. When finished, it will include:
museum exhibit space, 17 Site-specific
commissioned Artworks, a children's play
area, a pet relief room and more. While
there are examples around the world in
newer and remodeled airports where you
can find certain elements of these passenger
lifestyle accommodations, it rarely happens
as the core driver of airport design and
architecture like it does for SFO's vision.
SFO Terminal 1 Boarding Area B
will feature an abundance of natural light
throughout with floor-to-ceiling windows,
creating both the reality and impression of
more space and a connection to the world
outside. 
Read more at
www.AviationPros.com/21077166

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAT ASKEW

Pat brings to HKS a tremendous wealth of
aviation industry knowledge. He's an avid
globetrotter and has worked with some
of the world's most successful airports
and airlines - from American Airlines to
Emirates Airlines to JetBlue and from LAX
to Heathrow to Dubai.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 39
http://www.AviationPros.com/21077166 http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM
Airport Business

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Airport Business
