The two-story, 7-gate expansion at Concourse A creates an additional 60,000 square feet for airline operations, passenger holdrooms, concessions space, and new public restrooms, as well as tenant space for airline ramp operations on the ground level of the concourse. The largely brick facade features insulated metal wall panels and a curtain wall with floor-to-ceiling glass that allows light to enter the building and provides uninterrupted views of the airfield. The design is an extension of our existing architecture for RIC, with the materials and color palette established through our previous work at the airport.
Inside, our design also includes all-new LED lighting and bright, continuous terrazzo flooring that is extended from the existing concourse. A vaulted ceiling throughout the circulation areas features continuous clerestory windows that bring daylight into the space, while floor-to-ceiling glass throughout the concourse provides an abundance of natural light and views to the airfield and runway.
Clerestory windows also bring natural light into the new public restrooms, which feature a family restroom, a mother’s room for nursing, and co-located janitor closets. As airport restrooms are fully cleaned multiple times a day and passengers are always present, the layout for each restroom—Men’s and Women’s—is divided into two full compartments so that one side of the Women’s restroom, for example, can be closed for cleaning, while the other side remains open to passengers. Often, airports do not have this functionality for cleaning, forcing passengers to either wait or walk to another set of restrooms. The facade, layout, and finishes were completely reinvented for the expansion and will serve as a prototype for future restroom renovations at the airport.