The new concourse under construction is
beginning to resemble the other gates that
opened more than two decades ago.
Another difference most people won’t count is overhead: Only six mini-
domes top the ceiling at the end of the new pier instead of nine at the
ends of the current piers. Though fewer in number, the new domes are
larger than their counterparts.
Glass is another feature that has evolved, due to advances in
technology and building code requirements. Lee noted, “We looked
very hard and found a close match in terms of compatibility and
appearance, so the glass will blend in seamlessly while meeting high
performance standards.”
One factor that was never debated is color. The shade of yellow
that has coated interior steel since 1997 is officially known as ochre
(pronounced OAK-er), but the nickname that stuck over the years
among airport maintenance crews is “National Yellow.” That same
yellow will be applied inside the new concourse for consistency and
to acknowledge the sunny demeanor of the original National Hall.
Designers like Lee caution the yellow may look lighter at first, but it will
emit the same brilliance passengers experienced when Terminal B/C
first opened. Over time, Lee says, the colors should blend together as
the new building matures.
According to Lee, the key to success of borrowing from old blueprints
and advancing new concepts is the people who were involved. A firm
affiliated with the original Terminal B/C design was also involved in new
concourse plans — bringing some of the architects back to the table.
“The designers were not surprised to see we wanted a complementary
building, but at the same time they brought a lot of experience to
improve on old designs in the new project. We revisited decisions
made over 20 years ago to justify what elements should remain for the
new construction. That gave us a high level of confidence which will
greatly benefit the project,” Lee said.
Group work was much easier this time around, thanks to
communications technology. On the original B/C terminal project,
a scaled model of the complete structure was built as a point of
reference. Designers had to fly to Connecticut to see it up close.
Today, views of the concourse design are layered with details that are
viewable in a shared computer database that lets engineers zoom,
rotate, and fly through with each stroke of a mouse.
For Lee, one of the best aspects of his job is visiting the site to see
the new concourse design coming to life. “It’s amazing to be part of
this effort to improve our customers’ experience,” he says. “There’s
nothing more fulfilling than to see a building getting constructed and
realizing the dream after the countless hours of effort.”
SPRING 2020 25 FLYWASHINGTON.COM