Fort Smith Regional Airport Terminal

Overview

The existing 40-year old airport passenger terminal was cramped and expansion was limited by surrounding military and general aviation development. The Owner desired a modern facility that would create an identifiable image and create a welcoming gateway to those entering the city through air transportation.

The Owner challenged the architects to create a facility that responded to the terminal’s location in a smaller market with strong ties to its history of traditional brick construction. Since most new passenger terminals rely upon exposed structure and large expanses of glass, there was little precedent for a passenger terminal which incorporated the latest in security and technology within a traditional envelope.

The building was developed as a series of five separate volumes connected by a “T”-shaped circulation spine. The land-side of the building houses the airline ticketing offices in one volume and the baggage claim/car rental offices in another volume. The front entry to each of these spaces is marked by a tower along a 300-foot long exterior covered walkway.

These two spaces are connected to the rest of the building by the Grand Plaza. All three of the land-side volumes are lit with natural light through clerestory windows. Computer terminals at airline ticketing and car rental offices are shielded from the glare by free-standing wings which float over the counters.