San Francisco International Airport
Terminal 1C
Kuth Ranieri teamed with Gensler to design the 1.1 million sf SFO Terminal 1 Center Project. Through a design-build delivery with Hensel Phelps, the project redeveloped one of the Airport’s oldest terminals to meet the needs of modern travelers and revolutionize the guest experience. The final phase of SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was completed in June of 2024 after a decade in the making. The project is a redevelopment of one of the Airport’s oldest terminals to meet the modern traveler’s needs and revolutionize the guest experience. An overarching goal was to regionalize this global aviation hub by introducing the “Bay Area’s naturalism” theme, capturing its rich histories of thriving cultures and remarkable diversity. The project induces a “quiet wow,” fostering a sense of discovery and delight while leaving a lasting impression of San Francisco’s International Airport that celebrates the joy of travel. The building sets the stage for future flexibility while allowing the terminal to adapt to changing technologies and uses.
Sustainability is critical to the mission of SFO and the key driver in the design of Terminal 1. Strategies range from smart equipment and controls to advanced envelope design and materials. The team performed a Carbon Use Intensity (CUI) Study. The final set of recommendations, including new all-electric compatible systems, dynamic glazing, high-efficiency baggage handling, certified GHG-free supplied electricity, and on-site renewables, will result in a 50-year CUI of 124 lbs/CO2e/sf — a significant 79% reduction, which the team is now equipped to repeat at other airports. Now recognized as an international template for sustainable design, the project fuses technological innovation and human-centered design to address the needs of a diverse user population and produce a terminal that uses 60% less energy than comparable facilities.
Project Info
- Merit Award, AIASF Design Awards, 2023
- Honor Awards, IIDA Northern California Chapter Summit, 2023
- Climate Action Award, AIA California Design Awards, 2022
- Best in Building Health Award, Fitwel, 2021
- “How the New SFO Terminal Reflects the Needs of Travelers Post-Pandemic,” Airport Magazine, October 2021.
- “UL10: Aviation Facilities,” Urban Land, 23 Aug, 2021.
- “News Briefs: SFO’s Milk Terminal Receives Healthy Design Award,” Bay Area Reporter, 31 Mar, 2021.
- “Design of SFO’s New Terminal 1 Inspired by Bay Area Naturalism,” The Registry SF, 10 Jan, 2019.
- “Topping off SFO’s $2.4 billion Terminal 1 project” SF Gate, 6 Jun 2018
- “SFO Celebrates ‘Topping Out’ of Terminal 1 Project” Fly SFO, 5 Jun 2018.
