Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s, airport of the future is officially underway as officials broke ground on a new 700,000-square-foot terminal project. Pittsburgh International Airport is officially the first terminal in the country to be built from the ground up in a post-pandemic world. Focused on public health and technology, the new facility will include clean air technology, space for social distancing and 90,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space pre- and post-security.

The Airport Authority is also implementing new industry-leading standards to break down barriers and increase equal opportunities for small businesses, women and people of color. Additionally, the new terminal will be among the most sustainable in the industry and will be built to LEED-certified silver standards or beyond. The airport’s microgrid, fueled by 10,000 solar panels and five natural gas generators, will power the new terminal. As construction progresses, a minimum 75 percent of waste generated will be recycled or reused, alongside rainwater harvesting and other water conservation efforts.

“The new terminal program is a critical infrastructure project for the region and will deliver long-term economic benefits including jobs for more than 5,500 local construction and skilled trades workers,” said Rich Fitzgerald, executive, Allegheny County. “This is further proof of how our region continues to grow and develop when anchored by a thriving airport that opens the door to the world.”

The project is expected to generate some $2.5 billion in economic impact and 14,500 total direct and indirect jobs. Among the largest infrastructure projects in Pittsburgh’s history, the airport hopes to source most of the 12,000 tons of steel, 94,000 tons of concrete and more than 354,000 square feet of wood materials locally.

“As we break ground with the concrete that has been here for decades, we break ground on more than a building; we break ground on the future of travel,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO, Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport. “Today, we are advancing a new standard for infrastructure projects that benefit our people and our communities first. The new Pittsburgh International Airport will be built for and by the people of this region. This new terminal represents the region’s DNA, and it will mirror Pittsburgh and our many rich cultures.”

The airport also announced a first-of-its-kind regional partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Authority to proactively reduce construction site hazards and serious injuries, increase sustainability and advance an overall safer and greener site. The new terminal will consolidate operations, such as tickets and baggage claim, to improve passenger experience, like reducing passenger travel time by 50 percent to get from the curb to airside. There will also be a new 3,300-space parking garage, rental car facilities and entrance roadways. The new facilities are scheduled to open in 2025.

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