New details emerge for Sky Harbor's Terminal 3 project

• Plans for a redesigned Terminal 3 include energy-efficient components and LEED certification
• Construction will begin following the Super Bowl in spring 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2020
• The new terminal will look different%2C with expansive glass windows%2C a new south concourse with more gates and a renovated north concourse

The vision for a redesigned Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is getting clearer.

It's a vision calling for a modern terminal with more natural light, more energy efficiency and more convenience.

Phoenix Aviation Department officials presented details for the $590 million modernization project to the city's Downtown, Aviation and Redevelopment subcommittee this month. The City Council might approve funds to continue the project at its Wednesday, Sept. 17, meeting.

The project will close gates in Terminal 2 and move them to Terminal 3, boosting Terminal 3's total active gates to 25 from 16. Officials already had announced the project would consolidate security checkpoints and upgrade baggage carousels and ticketing counters.

Construction is expected to "start in earnest" after the Super Bowl, in spring 2015, said Art Fairbanks, aviation's special-projects administrator overseeing the project.

Work will be completed in increments to minimize airport disruption, said Tamie Fisher, assistant aviation director, during the subcommittee meeting.

"This is a very complex project," she said. "You could think of this project as building a terminal inside of a terminal with about 5 million passengers a year visiting the job site."

Project details emerge

Aviation officials presented some specifics during the subcommittee meeting:

• New look and feel: The redesigned terminal will trade narrow windows and heavy concrete for expansive glass windows and panoramic views of metro Phoenix, Fairbanks said. The terminal also will feature higher ceilings, and in several areas, the existing ceiling between floors will be removed to create a "Great Hall" space. A new "recomposure area" after the security checkpoint will allow passengers to put their shoes back on and organize belongings more comfortably.

• Terminal flow reorganization: People currently can access two floors in Terminal 3 and enter the building on either level. The new layout will still have ticketing and baggage on the ground level and security on the second level, but will add PHX Sky Train access, gates and concessions to a third floor.

People entering the building from parking will be directed to the ground-floor level and will then take escalators to higher floors, while people entering from the Sky Train will already be on the same level as gates and concessions. The new terminal will not have concession areas separated depending on airline.

• "Green" efforts: Airport officials expect Terminal 3 to become LEED silver-certified. The U.S. Green Building Council created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System as a benchmark for constructing and operating environmentally-conscious buildings.

The building will use natural lighting, recycled and locally-produced materials, energy-efficient equipment and plumbing that uses less water, Fairbanks said. The building's exterior will have overhead shade, high-efficiency glass and vertical window coverings to mitigate heat from windows.Officials also are considering solar-generation options.

• Concourse changes: Workers will raze Terminal 3's existing south concourse, construct a new 15-gate concourse and remodel the north concourse. Both concourses will feature new dining and retail concessions, restrooms and seating with access to electrical outlets.

Some City Council members said they were excited about the project's details.

"Terminal 3 is in real need of an update," Councilman Bill Gates said. "It's going to be taking on a lot more importance with this project."

Gates did raise one concern related to terminal flow. He said people parking in the East Economy parking lot on Level 3 who want to use Sky Train will have to go down to the ground level and then up an escalator to the train.

"People have raised that issue with me," he said. "I know from an engineering perspective why it needs to be that way, and ... overall, I think this will be a vast improvement."

Construction on the main terminal will begin first, with initial work on Terminal 3's security checkpoint scheduled for completion in mid-2016, Fairbanks said. Additional phases on the main terminal will begin immediately after, with all main-terminal work scheduled for completion in 2018.

The project is expected to be completed in 2020.

Next steps

The Aviation Department will ask the City Council at its Sept. 17 meeting to approve using $103 million of project funds for such work as relocating aviation staff, moving some airline activity temporarily to Terminal 2 and ordering items.

The project is financed through an Aviation Department enterprise fund, which receives money from airport revenue.