Passenger Terminal World - Passenger Terminal World Annual Showcase 2025
Interdisciplinary innovations are driving a biophilic, cost-effective design at Monterey Regional Airport’s new terminal
2024-10-17 08:12:05
ELEVATED EXPERIENCE
Air travel numbers continue to break records and surpass pre-pandemic passenger volumes. As passenger numbers increase, travelers expect more from their airport experiences. Simultaneously, escalating construction costs are squeezing program budgets for airport capital improvement projects.
Airport operators need cost-effective, innovative design solutions when considering terminal modernizations. These solutions must add value to the airport, meet its current and future operational needs and enhance the overall traveler experience.
Some of these innovative solutions are on display at the new five-gate terminal project at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) in Monterey, California. MRY selected HOK to replace its outdated terminal as part of the MRY Metamorphosis program. The result is a sustainable, timeless design that showcases the region’s natural beauty and gives the airport flexibility for future expansion. The interdisciplinary project team’s innovative thinking helped the airport navigate pandemic-related budget challenges and create smart design outcomes that delight travelers.
MRY’s metamorphosis
MRY is on California’s central coast, in the heart of the Monterey Peninsula. The area is known for its relaxing waterfronts, sweeping hillsides, towering pine forests and world-class Pebble Beach golf course. The airport anticipates serving approximately 400,000 passengers annually, many drawn to the region’s iconic scenery and rich cultural heritage. As air travel increases, MRY is set to transform its aging infrastructure, enhancing landside and airside features to offer an elevated traveler experience.
HOK is collaborating with MRY to design extensive updates to 59,000ft2 (5,480m2) of enclosed spaces and 23,000ft2 (2,140m2) of open-air areas. The project also includes 12,500ft2 (1,160m2) of apron improvements and extensive updates to 577,000ft2 (53,600m2) of roadways, premium and long-term parking, landscaping and site utilities. Construction will begin in 2025.
An interdisciplinary approach
To address the replacement terminal’s diverse programming needs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, HOK relied on its in-house engineers and specialists to develop an interdisciplinary project team. This collaborative team is providing architecture, interiors, planning, lighting, sustainability, landscape architecture and structural engineering. It will also provide signage and wayfinding, and mechanical, electrical, low-voltage, security, plumbing and fire protection engineering services for the project – the full gamut of HOK’s aviation expertise.
This internal, integrated approach creates a streamlined team structure that breaks down barriers and maintains a focus on the client’s vision. It also helps control costs, reduce project team management fees, optimize the project schedule, increase quality control and limit risks.
Challenging traditional designs
Budget challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the HOK team to think differently about the design-bid-build project and challenge the status quo in airport terminal design.
Early in the design phase, project stakeholders determined they wanted to incorporate Monterey’s natural beauty into the terminal design through greenery and outdoor spaces. The team brainstormed multiple concepts, from interior courtyards in the center of the terminal to cove-inspired designs that included landside and airside garden plazas.
Together, the team landed on a ‘tree house’ design concept, connecting travelers to nature wherever they are in the terminal, whether through direct views of the outdoors, a courtyard plaza, an observation deck, or furnishings and materials that reference nature.
"Inspired by airplane wings, both areas feature swooping curves in the flooring, partitions and landscaping"
Bringing the outdoors inside
A key design feature of the tree house concept is the forecourt, an inviting gathering spot at the building’s entrance that welcomes travelers and puts Monterey’s scenic beauty on display. A lush garden plaza sits between the terminal’s central gate lounge and arrivals and departures halls. This space features native planting and unique seating options, enabling visitors to enjoy the region’s mild climate.
Inside the terminal, the project team reimagined the pre- and post-security layouts to streamline traveler circulation, consolidate services, reduce construction costs and enhance the passenger experience. Instead of creating standard seating at each gate, the team combined the seating and gathering spaces into a modern, inviting central lounge and dining space immediately beyond the security checkpoint. Multiple seating options give travelers choices on how to rest and relax before boarding their flights.
The central lounge overlooks the forecourt, with abundant daylight flooding the space. Inspired by airplane wings, both areas feature swooping curves in the flooring, partitions and landscaping. The curves between the indoor tiling and carpeted flooring blend seamlessly with the matching paving in the outdoor forecourt, visually connecting the pre- and post-security gathering spaces to guide passengers along their journey through the airport.
To maximize the efficiency of the concourse, the design firm incorporated an innovative ‘call to gate’ concept, where each gate offers space for queuing and relies on the central lounge for seating. A smaller lounge space adjacent to the farthest gate at the east end offers a more private spot for travelers to unwind. Here, an adjacent outdoor garden can be converted to accommodate additional gates in the future. At the other end of the concourse, an outdoor observation deck gives travelers direct views of flights taking off and landing, and the Monterey Bay beyond.
Creating calm through a timeless design
Every design feature within the terminal intentionally creates a calming atmosphere that reflects both the beauty and charm of California’s central coast.
The interior design mirrors Monterey’s terrain through warm woods and natural colors and materials. High ceilings, quartz countertops and pine-colored tiling in arrivals and departures areas evoke the region’s open, airy inland hills. The central lounge echoes California’s calming coastal redwoods with dark woods, plush furnishings with deep green colors, and indoor plants. The concourse pays homage to Monterey’s dynamic coastline through terrazzo flooring, light wood walls and patterned carpeting.
The terminal’s spacious hallways, tall ceilings, clear wayfinding and signage, and timeless design all work together to put travelers at ease. They can intuitively navigate through the terminal, find their gate and relax before a flight.
A beacon of sustainability
The new terminal is targeting LEED Platinum certification and net zero energy readiness. Its mass timber structure supports both the aesthetic appeal and reduced embodied carbon goals. HOK’s interdisciplinary team integrated the building systems for maximum efficiency, which is crucial for the exposed timber design.
Clerestory and floor-to-ceiling windows fill the building with daylight and connect travelers to the outside. HOK’s structural engineering and sustainability experts used advanced new tools to analyze daylighting and views, glare mitigation, building envelope performance, embodied carbon and operational HVAC cost savings. These efforts optimize construction and maintenance costs while ensuring passenger comfort.
A stunning, cost-effective transformation
Airports and terminal modernization projects are complex. They require strong teams with seasoned experts to create beautiful, functional, flexible and sustainable spaces. HOK’s global interdisciplinary team approach and innovative design thinking will make Monterey Regional Airport’s new terminal a welcoming and inspiring gateway to California’s central coast.
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