Houston Airports makes significant progress on the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program

With the installation of a Feature Wall underway, Houston Airports makes significant progress on the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program amid continued global supply chain challenges.

A Houston-inspired Feature Wall, designed to dazzle and calm passengers, has the first section installed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. In less than a year, a combination of copper ceiling and calming LED lighting will welcome international travelers to the currently under-construction Terminal D West Pier.

The new pier will make room for a world-class retail and dining experience, new gates that can accommodate 10 narrow-body aircraft or 6 wide-body aircraft, and a thoughtful, sustainable and modern design that will make the new concourse inviting, comfortable and more inclusive for all passengers.

“5-Star customer service expanded amenities and cutting-edge technology will transform a decades-old terminal into one of the most modern airport experiences in the country,” said Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. “But it’s the natural beauty of Houston that will make the Terminal D-West Pier special and the airport experience positively memorable for passengers.”

Construction workers spent the first days of June carefully installing pieces of glass that form the 380-foot-long Feature Wall. LED lighting choreographed to represent a circadian rhythm will gently ease passengers off their international flights and into Bush Airport. Rather than install large distracting LED panels the space is gently accented natural light with small LED strips within each architectural glass element.

“In many cases, passengers will be adjusting to a new time zone,” said Khalid Radwan, Executive Program Manager for the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP). “Softened versions of yellow, orange, blue and purple will be dictated by the time of day, the transition of time and a progression of the Houston sky and represented in an LED wall that allows passengers to experience the magic of flight through light. The color palette draws inspiration from the warm earth tones of the Bayou City’s slow-moving waters.”

The Houston City Council Economic Development Committee received its first look at the Feature Wall during a scheduled update on the ITRP. Once the New Terminal D-West Pier is substantially completed in late 2023, the new international terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport will be one of the newest and most modern in the United States, enhancing the airport’s world-class passenger experience for millions of travelers.

Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz and Principal Executive Program Manager Steven Andersen provided the committee and update on the largest capital improvement project in the history of the airport system.

“We are essentially building a cube within a cube,” said Diaz. “Our construction teams are constrained by all six sides as we build a new international terminal in the heart of a fully operational international airport as air service and passenger demands return to pre-pandemic levels. And we’re doing the work safely. This is a truly amazing feat and Houston Airports is incredibly proud of this achievement.”

Andersen provided an update on the ITRP budget ($1.43 billion) which includes the opportunity to invest in additional traffic mitigations ($8.7 million, 0.6%), address market conditions primarily driven by a highly volatile global supply chain disruption ($31.4 million, 2.3%), and respond to unforeseen conditions, like correcting code gaps in old infrastructure and supporting operational needs while working in a live environment ($27 million, 2%).

The overall increase for these three areas is less than 5%.

By September 2022, ITRP had already absorbed $6 million in rising prices within its current budget. Innovative strategies continue to help Houston Airports combat inflation.

In June 2022, additional lanes reopened on South Terminal Road and the length of the international arrivals curb was extended. Houston police continue to direct motorists and reduce curb traffic during peak hours as the 2023 summer progresses. Additional funding would allow for continued terminal curb and traffic management, a sophisticated three-step traffic impact construction process and customizable construction designs that allow for hour-by-hour planning to ensure traffic congestion is minimized.

While approval from City Council is required for the additional funding, Houston Airports is a self-funded enterprise and does not rely on local tax dollars.