The Virgin America Terminal, T2, in San Francisco’s international airport is a great example of thoughtful design that is beautiful in it’s simplicity and sustainability. I had the opportunity to pick up a friend there last week and I am now a BIG fan! Here are some Very Virgin America Reasons to Love SFO’s Terminal 2 via 7X7 SF .
- Working travelers can log on at lap top work tables, plug-in stations and elevated work counters and enjoy free wireless throughout the terminal.
- There’s a Pinkberry
- It’s the first airport dining program in the country to recruit Slow Food vendors.
- It’s slated to be the first LEED Gold Certified airport terminal in the U.S.
- Similar to Virgin America’s signature cabin music, moodlighting, seating, and design, T2’s “Recompose” zone will create a stress-reducing oasis for travelers post-security
“The new T2 demonstrates that sustainability is achievable on many levels – from reusing construction debris to rethinking water usage to public education,” says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Renovating SFO’s T2 toward LEED Gold brought all of this together. It is an incredible achievement, and we are proud, once again, to be taking the lead on sustainable innovation.”
Uniquely “Virgin” features in the airline’s T2 space are:
- Mood-lit” LED ticket counters that mirror the airline’s distinctive cabin moodlighting, which transitions based on outside light
- Gates designed with beautiful “living room” like spaces
- Common spaces that allow travelers to shop, relax, work, eat and play within visual sight of their gate;
- In line with the airline’s cabin music, moodlighting, seating and design, T2′s Recomposure Zone will create a stress-reducing oasis for travelers and feature a hanging art installation entitled “Air Ocean” by Janet Echelman
- Laptop plug-in stations, elevated work counters and free wireless throughout; and
- A baggage-claim area with illuminated soffits inspired by San Francisco’s distinctive cloud patterns. The area is described by designers as a hybrid piece of “kinetic art,” exposing how the device delivers bags to travelers, while also efficiently distributing conditioned air.
T2′s sustainable green-build and green-design features include:
- The vast utilization of natural light, modern ventilation systems that require 20 per cent less energy and a reclaimed water reuse program;
- ‘Hydration Stations’ will allow flyers to fill reusable water bottles once past security, reducing the volume of waste created by single-use water bottles;
- Local food: T2 will have the first airport dining program in the country to recruit Slow Food vendors. It will feature organic food vendors, offering wholesome food grown locally and prepared in a healthful manner
- Completing a Multi-Modal Hub: T2 will connect to the Bay Area Regional Transportation System (BART), so that employees and travelers alike can easily travel from airport to city on mass transit;
- Abundant natural light: Skylights and clerestories bring daylight into the ticketing lobby and retail areas, providing a healthier work environment, while significantly reducing electricity usage in the day;
- Contractors recycled 90 per cent of construction and demolition debris from the T2 project. SFO requires ongoing source separation of all recyclable solid waste to enable the attainment of 75 percent recycling by 2010 and 90 percent recycling by 2020; and
- Preferential parking for hybrid cars. (that would be me…and you can use your fast-trak to get in and out of the parking lot…simple and clever!)
And my personal favorites, easy to read boards (I didn’t need to find my reading glasses, thank you very much!)
and…Great shopping! I found my friend Alise Sheehan’s product from her company Wish Nests at the great gift shop “Greetings from San Francisco”, just past security.
you can find her product on line at Aurelia’s Nest click on the pic for the link
As a seasoned traveler and citizen of the world I have missed the special feeling of glamour and mystic when I travel today. It’s now no frills, hassle management, and cattle car herding through security at every airport, so it’s a pleasure to enjoy an airport experience and the beauty of thoughtful design.
Isn’t it amazing that the simplest design in a thoughtful manner can produce such pleasure? What is one of the simplest beauty spots you’ve experienced in your life? Let me know, I love Little Bits of Beauty™ in all forms!
video courtesy of Diane Harrigan: Postcards from San Francisco!
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I love it when they make airport terminals like this. If you have to spend time at the airport why not spend time in one full of art?
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