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Overview
Reimagining the city as a global gateway; San Diego’s new Terminal 1 blends sustainability, culture, and design to reflect the community it serves.
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Opportunity
The San Diego International Airport is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States.
Originally designed in 1967 to support 2.5 million annual travelers, Terminal 1 now accommodates more than 12 million passengers each year. The outdated facility struggled with overcrowded gate areas and congested roadways, creating an urgent need for a comprehensive transformation. With passenger volumes projected to continue rising through 2035, the terminal required a future-ready solution to transform the travel experience.
More about this topic
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Why This Matters
01
A Gateway Under Pressure
As passenger volumes outgrew the original terminal, congestion threatened the airport’s ability to deliver a seamless travel experience for one of the region’s most important civic assets.
02
Room for Future Growth
With demand projected to keep rising, Terminal 1 needed more than incremental upgrades. Success meant creating flexible infrastructure that could support San Diego’s long-term mobility needs.
03
A City’s First Impression
As the front door to San Diego, the airport needed to reflect the city’s culture, climate, and global ambitions, while improving the experience for millions of travelers.
... the design incorporated a steel bracing system. That was really incorporated to reduce the amount of steel that was needed in the building as a whole. It reduced our embodied carbon by 30% and it also resulted in a savings of $58 million.
Solution
Terminal 1 offers state-of-the-art passenger processing, security, and amenities in a bright and flexible environment.
New roadways, parking, and ground transportation systems significantly reduce congestion throughout Terminal 1. The extended arrivals curb provides ample seating areas and water-wise landscaping. The full terminal façade, titled “Luminous Wave” was designed in collaboration with artist James Carpenter to incorporate daylight while reducing glare and heat. A buckling-restrained brace system eliminates two column rows inside the ticketing hall. This structural detail improves circulation and helps future-proof the terminal. Additionally, it saved $58 million in material costs and reduced embodied carbon by 30%.
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Related Content
32%
Reduction in Energy Use
100%
Renewable Power Sourcing
185
EV Charging Spaces
From brief to build: how structural, daylighting, and mobility strategies shaped a more efficient, sustainable terminal for San Diego’s growing passenger demand.
Designing the new Terminal 1 required the team to solve for movement, comfort, and performance at every scale, from roadway circulation to the terminal’s structural frame. Process studies explored how passengers move from curb to gate, how daylight could define the travel experience, and how structural efficiencies could open the ticketing hall while reducing material use. Together, these design decisions translated operational complexity into a clearer, more flexible, and more sustainable airport environment.
Impact
Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport redefines travel by seamlessly connecting curb to gate while preparing for long-term growth.
The design integrates roadway, parking, and passenger processing to ease congestion, and anticipates future solutions, like an automated people mover. Reinforcing San Diego’s culture, climate, and environmental values, the terminal prioritizes sustainable strategies while enhancing the passenger experience. The result is a gateway that serves travelers today and positions San Diego as a global city prepared for the future.
What Changed Because of This
01
Passenger Experience
Expanded gate areas, clearer circulation, and improved curb-to-gate connectivity create a calmer, more intuitive journey for millions of travelers annually.
02
Environmental Performance
Reduced energy use, renewable power sourcing, and lower embodied carbon help align the terminal with San Diego’s long-term sustainability goals.
03
Future Mobility
Integrated roadway, parking, and ground transportation systems reduce congestion today, while preparing the airport for future regional mobility connections.
Our design for Terminal 1 celebrates Southern California’s natural beauty with abundant daylight, local materials, and expansive views. Every element of the terminal prioritizes a seamless, human-centered experience for every traveler.
Recognition
CONDE Nast Taveller
Archinect
Engineering News-Record
Team
Project Leadership
FAQ
Where is San Diego International Airport Terminal 1 located?
Who designed the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport?
Why was Terminal 1 redesigned?
How does the new Terminal 1 improve the passenger experience?
How does the project support sustainability goals?
How does the new Terminal 1 reflect San Diego?
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