READ MORE: Prestigious International Organization Selects PIT Among World\u2019s Most Beautiful<\/a><\/p>\nPIT is among the first major U.S. airports to incorporate multiple outdoor terraces directly into a new terminal design and to provide such space both before and after security. Most airports that offer outdoor public areas do so through observation parks, landside plazas or stand-alone viewing areas. Design such as that seen at PIT is part of a broader trend that emphasizes wellness, access to daylight and fresh air and stronger connections between airports and their communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are one of the few airports in the United States that has access to the outdoors like this without the cost of entering; you don\u2019t have to pay, you don\u2019t have to be a member of a certain club,\u201d Cassotis said. \u201cThe terraces are redefining what it means to be an airport. I think this will surprise a lot of people, and people will say, \u2018Oh, I had no idea you could do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Gongaware, project architect with Gensler, who collaborated with HDR and luis vidal+architects in designing the new terminal, added, \u201cIt is uniquely Pittsburgh, and we are so proud that it came together the way it did. It\u2019s going to create an experience unlike any in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
All are welcome<\/p>\n
Although more airports both nationally and internationally are adding public spaces, many are located post-security. This makes PIT\u2019s pre-security terraces a unique feature among airports.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese terraces represent innovation in both design and airport planning, bringing local environments directly to passengers, meeters and greeters, staff and crew members,\u201d Cassotis said. \u201cThey help people feel more comfortable and connected throughout the travel experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike most airport amenities that require a boarding pass, the UPMC Terrace is open to anyone visiting the airport. Families greeting loved ones, aviation enthusiasts watching aircraft activity or community members simply looking for a unique public gathering place can all enjoy the experience. Airport officials have described the terraces as part of a vision to make the airport more welcoming and connected to the community it serves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes PIT\u2019s terraces so great is that the community can come out here,\u201d Gongaware said. \u201cThey can spend time together. Whether your loved one just arrived home from a long trip or you just want to take a moment to catch up, these terraces provide that for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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A place to sit in the UPMC Terrace. While more airports are adding public spaces, many are located post-security, making PIT\u2019s pre-security terraces a unique feature among airports. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)<\/p>\n
A relatively small but growing number of U.S. airports also provide accessible outdoor spaces prior to security. These spaces are often designed as observation areas, public plazas, terraces or landside parks, but are not incorporated inside their terminals. Several of these airports include:<\/p>\n
Dallas\/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Founders\u2019 Plaza is a 6-acre observation park along the airport\u2019s north side that offers clear views of active runways.
\nMinneapolis\u2013Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) Aircraft Viewing Area is located outside the terminal and offers close-up views of aircraft taxiing, taking off, and landing, depending on runway use, while remaining safely outside the secure airfield.
\nDenver International Airport\u2019s (DEN) public plaza and outdoor spaces are the open-air areas surrounding the Jeppesen Terminal, particularly the plaza between the terminal and the Westin hotel and transit center.<\/p>\n
Providing calm for passengers<\/p>\n
According to Ken Greene, assistant professor of the practice in the college of business at Embry\u2013Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Fla., public outdoor spaces available only to travelers post-security are as equally important for airports that serve as hubs or \u201corigin and destination\u201d (O&D) airports, such as PIT.<\/p>\n
\u201cPassengers at a hub airport who have a significant layover in the city may simply like to stay on their concourse, maybe sit outside, get some fresh air and get out of the very busy terminal environment while not having to reengage security and start all over again,\u201d Greene said.<\/p>\n
For O&D airports, the post-security spaces also serve a large group of travelers who are worried about navigating the airport from check-in, security and getting to their gates.<\/p>\n
\u201cI personally know people who like to get to an airport early and want to be on the other side of security quickly,\u201d Greene said. \u201cThey\u2019ve got the ticketing done. They\u2019ve checked bags. They\u2019ve gone through security. Now they can relax a bit and make sure they\u2019re at the gate when it\u2019s time to depart. These terraces for O&D passengers have a similar positive impact on someone connecting, as they also have time. So, if you have time available. What do you do with it? Being outside is a great way to spend some time before heading to their gates.\u201d<\/p>\n
PIT joins other major American airports with outdoor spaces integrated into their new or updated terminal designs. Examples include:<\/p>\n
San Diego International (SAN) opened a 5,000-square-foot terrace late in 2025. The post-security terrace offers views of the harbor and includes an outdoor restaurant.
\nNew York\u2019s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) also added a post-security rooftop deck as part of its Terminal 5i project, which is accessible to all passengers.<\/p>\n
Harkening back to earlier days of travel<\/p>\n
By integrating both landside and airside outdoor spaces, PIT demonstrates how thoughtfully designed open-air environments can enhance the functionality, comfort and overall quality of major transportation facilities while advancing broader trends in public-oriented design.<\/p>\n
The terraces also represent a return to an earlier era of aviation when airports were destinations in themselves. People routinely visited airports simply to watch aircraft arrive and depart.<\/p>\n
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Flowers at the UPMC Terrace. By integrating landside and airside outdoor spaces, PIT demonstrates how thoughtfully designed open-air environments can enhance the functionality, comfort and overall quality of major transportation facilities while advancing broader trends in public-oriented design. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)<\/p>\n
Allegheny County Airport\u2019s patio provided a terrific view of airfield traffic since its opening in 1931. The 1952 Pittsburgh International Airport terminal was specifically designed with multiple outdoor observation decks. It also featured the famous \u201cHorizon Room\u201d on the fourth floor, which offered panoramic views of the airfield and became the building\u2019s most popular viewing area.<\/p>\n
Throughout its 40-year history, countless visitors came to the airport just to sit on the observation deck and plane-watch. It was common to have wedding and prom photos taken on one of the decks or for families to spend an entire afternoon watching planes land and take off.<\/p>\n
By the 1980s and 1990s, public observation decks became less common as security concerns increased and airports shifted toward maximizing passenger and retail space. After the 1992 midfield terminal opened, Pittsburgh lost the large public observation areas that had been a hallmark of the original terminal.<\/p>\n
While the terraces don\u2019t offer the same sweeping runway views that made the original observation decks a beloved attraction, they capture much of the same spirit \u2014 providing a place where travelers and visitors can slow down, enjoy the airport atmosphere, watch planes take off and land, and maintain a connection to the excitement of flight.<\/p>\n
Historically, such outdoor amenities at airports were uncommon. Before the 2000s, most U.S. airports had little to no public outdoor areas, with security measures and land-use priorities limiting open space. Even when available, they were often restricted to small, seasonal features or private lounges. The post-9\/11 era tightened security, making large, open-air areas harder to implement.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s only been in the last 10 to 20 years that airports have been exploring and opening green spaces, Green said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOVID made us very aware of our environments around each other and accelerated the trend of having outdoor public spaces,\u201d Greene said. \u201cTravelers wanted fresh air, a break from crowded terminals and even leg room to stretch out and relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an era when most airports have moved away from public gathering spaces, PIT is once again giving the community a place to experience the magic of aviation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what people are going to find is it\u2019s a fantastic observation deck,\u201d Cassotis said. \u201cThere are a lot of people who like to watch planes take off and land and this is a great place to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Airports built in the last 50 years were designed to get travelers from curb to gate as efficiently…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":255324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1197,73,75,74,97842,108047],"class_list":["post-255323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-feature","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-terminal-modernization-program","tag-upmc-terrace"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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