Airside D at Tampa International Airport

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Airside D expands Tampa International Airport with a next-generation 16-gate terminal designed to elevate domestic and international travel through comfort, clarity, efficiency, and growth readiness.

Location

Tampa, FL

Client

Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Expertise

Aviation Brand Design [FPO] Climate Action [FPO] Sustainability

Opportunity

As Tampa grows and passenger demand accelerates, the airport needed a future-ready terminal that could expand capacity while making travel feel calmer, clearer, and accessible.

Tampa International Airport faced a dual mandate: prepare for major regional growth and deliver an exceptional day-to-day experience for both passengers and staff. Airside D had to add gates, improve domestic and international operations, strengthen connections to the Main Terminal, and support rising demand projected to reach nearly 35 million annual passengers by 2037. At the same time, the new terminal needed to feel intuitive, welcoming, and stress-free—balancing operational complexity and functional resilience with comfort, inclusivity, and ease of movement.

Why This Matters

01
Prepare for Regional Growth
With passenger volumes projected to approach 35 million annually by 2037, Airside D helps the airport expand strategically instead of reacting to congestion after it arrives.
02
Elevate the Travel Experience
For airports, capacity alone is not enough; comfort, legibility, and convenience shape public perception. Airside D turns essential infrastructure into a more reassuring passenger journey.
03
Support a More Inclusive Terminal
Features informed by user feedback, including a quiet room, children’s play area, added outlets, and greenery, show how operational projects can also respond to everyday human needs.

From the beginning, the guiding principle behind Airside D has been a singular focus on delivering the very best amenities and travel experience to the millions of passengers who visit TPA each year.

Solution

Designed in partnership with Hensel Phelps and HNTB, Gensler helped integrate hospitality, wayfinding, and passenger support to transform a major expansion into a human-centered travel journey.

The design balances infrastructure with passenger experience. Daylight, expansive airfield and bay views, intuitive signage, and robust concessions and lounges reduce friction and create a calmer journey. Gensler’s interior architecture and LEED consulting integrate operational needs, from international arrivals and baggage handling to spaces for rest and family travel. Convenient power access, greenery, a children’s play area, and a quiet room further support passenger comfort throughout the terminal.

From brief to build: translating passenger feedback, airport operations, and complex systems into a terminal experience that feels seamless, legible, flexible, and distinctly Tampa.

The process balanced large-scale aviation infrastructure with detailed human experience. Working alongside HNTB and Hensel Phelps, the team coordinated interiors, wayfinding, sustainability, and passenger amenities within a fast-moving design-build effort. Listening sessions with airport users informed key refinements. That feedback loop helped turn technical planning into lived experience, ensuring the terminal supports clearer navigation, operational efficiency, and a more comfortable journey from curb to gate.

Composing the Gate Portal

An axonometric study organizes holdroom seating, planting, and the illuminated D48 gate portal.

Impact

Airside D positions Tampa International Airport for long-term growth while improving how travel feels; expanding capacity, supporting global connectivity, and making the passenger experience more intuitive.

By pairing operational upgrades with hospitality-driven interiors, the project turns a capacity expansion into a more comfortable, efficient, and inclusive gateway for Tampa’s future.

What Changed Because of This

01
Passenger Comfort
Natural light, stronger amenities, added power, lounges, greenery, and spaces for children and quiet retreat create a calmer, more supportive travel experience.
02
Operational Clarity
Clearer wayfinding, improved processing, and better integration of baggage, security, and international arrivals help reduce friction for passengers while supporting airport staff.
03
Growth Capacity
Sixteen new gates and expanded domestic and international capabilities give Tampa International room to meet rising demand without compromising experience or performance.

Recognition

01

Construction Dive

Highlights Airside D’s scale, timeline, and growth impact, with Gensler identified as a key design partner on the new terminal.

02

Simple Flying

Emphasizes the scale and promise of Airside D, with Gensler appearing as a visible member alongside Hensel Phelps and HNTB.

03

WUSF NPR

Airside D named a major milestone for Tampa International, noting Gensler’s involvement in a terminal designed around comfort, clarity, and growth.

Team

Project Leadership

[FPO] Bert Oliva

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[FPO] Dianna Nix

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[FPO] Carlos Moreno

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[FPO] Jennie Santoro

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FAQ

01

When will Airside D open?

Construction completion is expected in late 2028, with public opening anticipated in 2029.

02

How many gates will Airside D have?

Airside D is planned as a 16-gate terminal serving domestic and international operations.

03

What is Gensler’s role on Airside D?

Gensler is leading interior architecture and providing signage and wayfinding design plus LEED consulting for the project.

04

Why is Airside D important for Tampa?

Airside D helps Tampa International Airport accommodate future passenger growth while improving comfort, efficiency, and the overall travel experience for both passengers and employees.

Related Work

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New Terminal One at JFK International Airport

JFK Airport’s all-new Terminal One will prioritize accessibility, convenience, and the ultimate passenger experience from airside to landside.

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Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal Modernization Program

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal transforms travel through a frictionless journey rooted in nature, technology, and the character of Western Pennsylvania.

Related Expertise

Aviation Brand Design Climate Action Sustainability

Airside D expands Tampa International Airport with a next-generation 16-gate terminal designed to elevate domestic and international travel through comfort, clarity, efficiency, and growth readiness.

As Tampa grows and passenger demand accelerates, the airport needed a future-ready terminal that could expand capacity while making travel feel calmer, clearer, and accessible.

Why This Matters

Designed in partnership with Hensel Phelps and HNTB, Gensler helped integrate hospitality, wayfinding, and passenger support to transform a major expansion into a human-centered travel journey.

From brief to build: translating passenger feedback, airport operations, and complex systems into a terminal experience that feels seamless, legible, flexible, and distinctly Tampa.

Airside D positions Tampa International Airport for long-term growth while improving how travel feels; expanding capacity, supporting global connectivity, and making the passenger experience more intuitive.

What Changed Because of This