DFW International Airport To Open International Terminal D On July 23

DFW International Airport, Texas (July 18, 2005) - DFW International Airport is set to unveil the world’s largest post 9/11 airport expansion on July 23, with the debut of the 2 million-square-foot International Terminal D.

The beautiful $1.2 billion international terminal features soaring 80-foot ceilings and wide open spaces, and boasts amenities that will ensure the safest and most-pleasant travel experience of any facility in the world. The international terminal was dedicated last month to "to the citizens of North Texas and international travelers around the world" and is estimated to create more than 77,000 new jobs and $34 billion in new economic activity for the economy over the next 15-years.

Top-flight consultants from the design, security, technology, accessibility and art worlds joined the DFW team to create this outstanding facility.

“More than five years of work will culminate next week with the long anticipated opening of this amazing terminal,” said Jeff Fegan, DFW CEO. “This new terminal will drive international tourism and business to the North Texas economy like never before. We can’t wait to welcome the world to this grand facility.”

All international flight operations will be relocated to the new Terminal D. Currently, international flights use terminals A, B and E. International carriers at DFW Airport include Aeromexico, Air Canada Jazz, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Grupo Taca, Korean Air, Lufthansa and Mexicana Airlines, flying to 38 international destinations. The terminal opens as DFW is setting an all-time record of more than 5.6 million international passengers in 2005.

The terminal project was hailed as the largest construction project in the state of Texas, and completion of International Terminal D literally required a cast of thousands.

“This was a project of monumental proportions,” said Clay Paslay, executive vice president for airport development. “More than 500 companies and 12,000 people from around the world worked more than 10 million man-hours to complete this terminal. And our safety record was unprecedented for a project of this size. We did it all with minimal injuries and no deaths. That’s the most monumental statistic of all.” 

Design and Construction

The design team of HKS Inc., Corgan Associates Inc. and HNTB created a facility using “intuitive wayfinding,” which helps passengers glide through the terminal from the ticketing halls to the gates. With arched ceilings, lighting, colored flooring, grand glass walls and unique construction materials, travelers can see, feel and sense the easiest, most-direct way through the building. The 2 million-square-foot facility, constructed by Austin Commercial, includes many moving walkways, elevators and escalators to help passengers maneuver through the terminal.

Amenities

The terminal includes 67 retail and restaurant venues, including concessions areas in both pre- and post-security locations. Passengers will also find live performance venues, children’s play areas and art elements to entertain and enlighten them on their journeys.

The Skylink automated people mover system was designed to travel through the heart of the facility and can be clearly viewed from the ticketing halls, concessions villages and customs processing areas. Two stations are located within the terminal, offering connecting travelers fast links to other terminals.

The terminal has six ambassador stations on the concourse level, 72 public restrooms (24 each for men, women and families), a 26,000 square-foot InTransit Lounge, an American Airlines Admirals Club and three common-use airline lounges.

The 298-room Grand Hyatt Hotel offers 17,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space in a luxurious setting. The hotel also provides patrons with a swimming pool and exercise room overlooking the airport.

Technology

The new 8,100-space parking garage features smart technology which aids passengers in finding the nearest available parking spaces with the shortest possible drive. This technology has benefits such as the customer being able to readily determine space availability prior to entering a level.

DFW has employed the most sophisticated security systems in the new terminal, including $4.68 million in additional communication systems and $13.5 million in baggage screening upgrades post 9/11.

Passengers will now be able to connect to the Internet with the T-Mobile HotSpot service anywhere in the airport. From the outside curb to the nose of the aircraft, T-Mobile Hotspot customers will have Wi-Fi Internet access not only in Terminal D, but throughout DFW’s existing four terminals – making it one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspots in the country. Adding to this "Curb to Nose" coverage, guests of the new Grand Hyatt Hotel, located inside Terminal D, will have access to the T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi network in all guest rooms, meeting spaces and common areas. 

Self-service kiosks may be found throughout the terminal, allowing passengers to print out their own boarding passes, as well as their baggage tags. Kiosks are found in the North and South Ticketing Halls on the departure level and in the baggage recheck on the arrivals level, one floor below.

Accessibility

Designers worked closely with representatives of the disabled community to create terminal features that go beyond federal requirements. Special features include floor medallions, service animal relief areas, private security screening rooms, sliding doors, bollard spacing and curbless crosswalks.

“Barrier removal takes more than a few well placed ramps,” said Kristi Thomas, president and CEO of Accessology Inc. “It’s making every area of the building open to all visitors whether they have a disability or not. It’s allowing every person the same opportunity to move within the building with ease.”

Art Program

From large scale sculptures to mosaic floor medallions at each airline gatehouse, when passengers step off their flights at International Terminal D, they will be greeted by various components of the $6 million art program. Twenty-five works from the art program may be found at Terminal D, with the remaining eight located at Skylink stations in existing terminals.

"There is no question that our $6 million art program in the new International Terminal D will dramatically enhance the experience of international travelers," said Kevin Cox, DFW COO. "It will also boost DFW's stature as a premier international gateway for the United States. While the terminal will bring new international business and tourism to the United States and Texas; the art program will bring the focus to the arts and culture of the Metroplex.”

Throughout International Terminal D are large-scale pieces including several three-dimensional sculptures, paintings and mixed media. Works include: a three-dimensional sculpture of a giant 20-foot tall wishbone; a 3-D sculpture of a variety of birds in flight; a dozen floor medallions marking gate areas featuring subjects ranging from birds and geometric shapes to dancing travelers; a 3-D labyrinth made of curved glass walls, interspersed with interactive sound stations; and a massive painting in each the main ticket halls, one an abstract painting representing urban landspaces in the south hall, and the other a painting of a West Texas landscape in the north hall.

Additionally, world-renowned art collector and philanthropist Raymond D. Nasher has loaned four works from his internationally acclaimed collection, which are now on display in a garden at International Terminal D. The four works are by Mark di Suvero, Anthony Caro, John Newman and Mac Whitney.

“We’re pleased that pieces of our collection will be one of the first things international visitors see in Texas,” said Raymond D. Nasher, founder of the Nasher Sculpture Center. “We hope the works will inspire travelers to visit the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Downtown Dallas Arts District and discover more of the outstanding works of our Texas artists.”

International Terminal D Overview

• Design and Construction – 2 million square feet designed for passenger convenience: moving walkways and straight corridors for better sightlines. • Amenities – 67 retail and restaurant venues, live performance spaces, two Skylink stations and 298-room Grand Hyatt Hotel. • Technology – 8,100-space parking garage featuring smart parking technology, integrated inline baggage screening system, T-Mobile HotSpot service throughout and self-service kiosks for ticketing and bag check • Accessibility – Designed to ease travel for disabled community including textured floor medallions, service animal relief areas, private security screening rooms, sliding doors, bollard spacing and crosswalks • Art Program – $6 million art program includes 25 works ranging from paintings to sculpture by international and North Texas artisans • Nasher Sculpture Garden – includes four loaned works from the worldrenowned collection of Raymond D. Nasher