Airport News
San Francisco International Airport has re-opened its renovated Boarding Area E in Terminal 3 today (28 January). Closed for the past 18 months, the boarding area has undergone a US$138m (£83m) transformation to bring modern facilities, technology and entertainment to passengers.
The 6,000m² renovation features a raised “Flight Deck” interactive experience that will serve as a physical point of entry to Boarding Area E, which will include 10 gates serving United Airlines.
The project was built in a design-build partnership between contractor Hensel Phelps and architect Gensler. In addition to modernising facilities, Gensler’s design focused on progressive sustainability measures that promote wellbeing and a healthy environment. This was created through natural lighting provided via skylights and circadian lighting, which simulates natural light.
The yoga room was another incentive to foster health and sustainable lifestyle at the airport. Boarding Area E also has an interactive play area, strategically placed between local restaurants such as Klein’s Deli and Mission Bar & Grill, allowing parents to keep an eye on their children while they eat.
In total, Boarding Area E has four restaurants and eight stores as well as two pop-up shops designed by Gensler. With leases that run approximately six months to a year, the pop-up shops are intended to encourage local retail into the airport.
The first pop-up shops at Boarding
Area E will be McEvoy Olive Oil and Collector from Berkeley, California.
In addition to food and beverage and retail options, Boarding Area E has been installed with laptop plug-in stations, elevated work counters and free wi-fi for electronic devices.
New “Wait Time” security checkpoint technology has also been installed, which provides customers real-time information about security wait times.
