Client

Broward County Aviation Department

Location

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Experiential Design and Wayfinding, Structural Engineering, Planning

Accolades

LEED Silver Certified

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The Terminal 2 project at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) was the design version of open heart surgery: we kept the terminal up and running while making some major changes. The project was part of the Gresham Smith-led Terminal Modernization Program, for which we are providing planning and design services for facility-wide, multi-phased airside, landside and curbside renovation of Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The program supports double-digit international passenger growth at FLL and establishes a uniform vision for the entire airport campus. Terminal 2’s extensive renovations streamline passenger processing, improve the passenger experience and finalize the airside connection of the entire airport. While the updates required creative structural engineering solutions to accommodate vertical expansion, the end result is an open, high-impact space.

34k
addition including new Sky Club and mezzanine
14
existing columns and footings reinforced while under load
45
ft vertical expansion in new airside court

Reimagining the Entire Terminal in an Active Construction Zone

Bordered by Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, the modernization and expansion of Terminal 2 needed to occur in place and to optimize any space available. When a project can’t expand horizontally in any direction, the only way is up. This meant that the modernization and repurposing of the space was completed while maintaining all airport operations from check-in to the boarding process. Gresham Smith embraced the challenge and provided complete project management, architecture, interior design, structural engineering, and environmental graphics and wayfinding services for the entire facility.

exterior of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Terminal 2

Creative Engineering

Vertical expansion and addition of a mezzanine made an obvious impact, with the end result being a grand, bright and airy space. But other impacts of the expansion are less visible…the structural impacts. The footings and the columns in the existing building couldn’t accommodate the extra weight or the wind load the expanded building would experience. To minimize impacts from construction, and avoid tearing and up and shutting down entire portions of the airport, we connected to the existing footings with additional support. To reinforce the columns, we worked from the inside out, inserting rebar and then putting new concrete around the columns to widen them.

Taking the Passenger Experience to New Heights

Our scope involved expanding and relocating the existing security checkpoint, as well as expanding and renovating the terminal’s ticketing area, gate seating, restrooms and concessions court. The modernization efforts at Terminal 2 provide a multistory space that allows for the addition of a mezzanine – including space for a new Delta Sky Club – that not only facilitates better passenger flow, but also creates a more open and modern feel. In aesthetic context with the upgrades to Terminals 1, 3 and 4, Gresham Smith’s crisp, clean and contemporary interior design strikes a subtle balance between warm and cool materials, creating a more welcoming atmosphere to enhance the passenger experience.

 

view from upstairs in the two story mezzanine in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Terminal 2

Sustainable Solutions for the Long Term

LEED Silver certified, the building’s sustainable components include locally sourced materials, low-flow fixtures, all-new automated electrical systems, and clerestory windows that add abundant natural light. The terminal serves as a vital connecting point between Terminals 1, 3 and 4, providing additional flexibility.