Albuquerque Sunport Amplifies Regional Feel During Terminal Renovations

Celebrating identity and sense of place are paramount at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). For starters, it’s a “sunport” rather than an airport. Add in the iconic southwestern architecture, interior décor and vibrant local arts program, and travelers would be hard pressed not to realize they’ve landed in New Mexico.

The airport’s well-established regional identity was recently amplified even more with its first major terminal renovation in 30 years, Dream of Flight: Sunport Reimagined. In addition to modernizing the terminal and improving infrastructure, safety and security, the $90 million investment is also creating ongoing opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

“One of my greatest pleasures as a leader at the Sunport has been supporting my team in this project, and seeing it come out so beautifully,” says ABQ Director Richard McCurley. “We focused on design and vision for years before the work behind the temp walls started in late 2022. Now I’m seeing the vision come to life, and I know that it’s because of the efforts of our staff along with our design and construction partners.”
As the state’s largest commercial airport, ABQ serves about 5 million annual passengers.

The terminal was originally built in 1965, with expansion projects in 1973 and 1989. Although there have been other renovations through the years, none were nearly as impactful to the customer experience as the project that is now almost complete, notes Manny Manriquez, the airport’s Innovation and Commercial Development director.

The multi-phase project was comprised of three major components:

• Relocating the TSA screening checkpoint and adding 10,000 square feet of queuing space to enhance efficiency for passengers and TSA officers;
• Modernizing HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and IT infrastructure, and adding upgraded fire protection infrastructure, including sprinklers in areas that did not previously have them; and
• Establishing a new Food Hall, adding retail shops on either side of the T-connector (between two concourses) and enhancing retail and food/beverage offerings in both concourses

The project also prominently features artwork to help passengers relax, recharge and explore. In fact, the project name itself was inspired by a bronze sculpture titled Dream of Flight—a celebration of the region’s cultural legacy by Lincoln Fox that portrays an indigenous man being pulled into the sky by a soaring eagle. It previously resided at the T-connector but was relocated to the center of the new Food Hall above a stage that will host local performers.

The city of Albuquerque purchased and commissioned several new pieces for the project as well.

Right-Sizing Retail

Planning for the modernization project began in 2018 and initially focused on right-sizing the concessions program. Like many airports designed pre-9/11, the concessions program was off balance with too many pre-security offerings and not enough post-security. “We had three retail units and two food and beverage units pre-security,” Manriquez explains. “Obviously they were not performing well in the post-9/11 era, and we thought it was time to make the shift.”

Efforts took a temporary pause during the COVID-19 pandemic; and once planning resumed, the airport was able to further sharpen the concessions program based on post-pandemic performance. “We really kicked the project back into high gear in terms of design and formulating the RFPs for the new retail and food and beverage concessions,” Manriquez relates.

At the same time, airport leaders identified other improvements that could be addressed. That list included upgrades to critical infrastructure, such as security and communication technology, fire suppression systems and renovation of holdrooms and the observation deck. Manriquez estimates that fully one-third of the $90 million budget is made up of infrastructure upgrades.

Jaynes was selected as the construction manager at risk, and it phased renovation work carefully to minimize impact on daily operations. The first step to reducing impact on customers was relocating the TSA checkpoint, a shift that brought passenger screening operations forward in the terminal and created more space for post-security concessions.

Beginning in September 2022, pre-security concessions were shut down (in fact, one had never reopened after closing at the start of the pandemic) and crews demolished all the units and their support spaces, as well as some airport office space. LiteBarrier temporary walls from STARC Systems were installed to separate the demolition and subsequent construction from passenger areas. To accommodate TSA equipment at the new checkpoint location, project designers raised the ceiling about 14 feet, which required the existing rooftop HVAC and electrical infrastructure be removed and replaced.

Raising the ceiling also made the space grander, brighter, more inviting and more comfortable, notes Ted Grumblatt, a principal with FBT Architects. Lighting was specifically designed to provide a calming environment, particularly in the passenger queuing area, he adds.

This phase took about a year, with the new TSA checkpoint opening in December 2023 and marking the first major milestone of the project. After the old checkpoint was closed, construction crews demolished it and prepared that space for ABQ’s new Food Hall, which opened in December 2024.

Passengers pass directly through the centralized food and beverage area as they make their way from the security checkpoint to the gates. The expansive hall features high ceilings, large skylights, art, a music stage and seven concessions units arranged around the central space with what Manriquez describes as “plussed up furniture and luxurious seating arrangements.” Large windows provide views of the airfield and beyond to the Sandia Mountains.

Manriquez emphasizes that the Food Hall isn’t the only refresh. Beyond it, elevators were removed and the T-connector was doubled in width to open up the circulation space and provide a view to the airfield as passengers head right and left to their gates.

Overall, the post-security footprint is now 24% larger. “It’s definitely a big impact on the flow through the space,” notes Manriquez. “It’s much more experiential, more inviting.”

Grumblatt explains that the design optimizes the existing space and will maximize concessions revenue in a way that wasn’t possible with the former layout. Moving TSA operations northward creates a usable, revenue-generating space after the passenger checkpoint. “There’s the hospitality side of it, too,” he adds. “Upgrades to the holdrooms, furniture, ceilings and new lighting all enhance the customer experience.”

Boarding bridges were updated with new carpeting and fresh wall paneling.

Heritage Elements, Modern Updates

“The Sunport already has a really well-established sense of place,” Manriquez says. “We were inspired to continue it and not do away with old design touches, but bring them into a more modern aesthetic and make some of the colors pop even more.”

This became the driving force for the design team. “It’s the colors, details, brick flooring and the Pueblo Revival [architecture] that all contribute to what makes Albuquerque unique,” Grumblatt relates. “That was a challenge, and we explored different ideas to honor the history while modernizing it.”

New carpeting was a big part of the plan. Forbo Flooring Systems worked with FBT Architects and airport officials to create a custom design inspired by traditional Native American blankets. The unique teal and earth tone design was used throughout the terminal, and boarding bridges were outfitted with companion solids and stripes.

Randell Thrasher, Forbo’s North America segment leader for aviation and public spaces, notes that the ABQ project team selected Flotex carpet, which can typically be cleaned with only water because there is no twist in its special nylon fibers. “You just pour regular water on the stain, agitate it and the stain comes right out in nearly all situations,” he says.

Some oil-based stains such as marker or shoe polish require a neutral cleaner and then water; but Thrasher estimates that 98% of all stains and spills that happen in airports can be cleaned with just water. “On stains such as coffee and soda, as you apply water and agitation you will see the water changing color as the stain releases, and you then use a towel to soak up the residue.”

The company also sells a tool called the Flotex Spot Eraser to make daily spot cleaning even easier for maintenance crews.

“With Flotex, you’re not dumping any unnecessary chemicals onto the floor and into the system,” Thrasher explains. “Almost all stains clean with just water, and you don’t have any of the accompanying issues such as unsightly patches, pulled ends and raveled edges that are standard in tufted or woven carpets.” In contrast, Flotex is a flocked textile product that creates an extremely dense texture that offers low resistance to wheelchairs, rolling luggage, etc.

Carpeting tiles are often uneven from tile to tile, Thrasher adds, and airports sometimes replace tiles just to get rid of a stain. “That’s an awful expensive way to clean your carpet,” he remarks. “Plus, it is unsightly—like a new patch on an old pair of jeans.”

In addition to installing 65,000 square feet of colorful custom carpeting, ABQ kept its iconic brick pavers throughout much of the renovated concourse areas. “It’s kind of a famous thing,” says Manriquez. “When you land in ABQ and get off the airplane with your roller bag, you hear that classic clickety clack as you roll over the brick pavers.”

But too much clicking and clacking can be overwhelming, so most areas are carpeted with Flotex. “Airports can be quite a noisy place, so this warms it up and makes it more comfortable,” Thrasher remarks.

Leaders at ABQ decided to refurbish rather than replace existing holdroom furniture because of the popular and unique custom fabricated chairs (shown on Pages 48 and 49). The heritage furniture was also rearranged and updated with tables that include charging stations. Designers incorporated Versteel steel frame beam seating in a more modern style, but still used the existing color palette and design language.

In the Food Hall, a mix of high- and low-top tables and lounge seating offer a variety of options for passengers. Copper-colored planter boxes filled with live plants add to the décor.

Manriquez notes that not all concessions moved post-security. One retail unit and one café are still located before the passenger checkpoint. Moving TSA screening northward closer to the curbside created the space needed for more post-security concessions and also provides a more comfortable experience for travelers, he adds. “You get people through faster and they can enjoy themselves on the other side.”

Artful Investment

Art in the terminal is integral to celebrating local culture at ABQ, and officials allocated $3.25 million for purchases and commissions, separate from the project budget. A request for information for pieces reflecting New Mexico’s rich heritage and cultural diversity yielded 384 responses. Five direct purchase pieces have already been installed in the TSA queuing area, and in late January, the airport finished selecting artists who will receive commissions to develop and install their work. “New Mexico has a very rich history of artistic development and it’s one of our biggest draws for visitors,” Manriquez emphasizes.

Concessions are now concentrated behind the TSA checkpoint.

The performing arts—notably, live local music—will be featured on a stage in the new Food Hall.

Meanwhile in the Concourses

To minimize operational impact, the team shut one gate down at a time to renovate its holdroom space and passenger boarding bridge. “We had to play a bit of musical chairs and move operations around,” Manriquez recalls.

Back of house at the same time, crews were upgrading security and camera equipment, IT infrastructure, fiber connections, fire suppression and HVAC systems. “It’s hard to draw a bright line between those two projects [infrastructure and facility improvements],” Manriquez notes. “Behind the scenes was such a big component of this effort.”

Exterior grease trap systems for concessionaires were replaced, which involved carefully phased concrete work on the apron. Concessions support space was built out below the main passenger level.

Manriquez reports that the overall complexity of the project increased once contractors moved into the T-connector area, because passenger and airline activity could not be stopped or relocated. “There were some disruptions, and we had to stop construction work a couple of times in order to address things like dust and noise,” he explains. “It wasn’t as impactful when they were demoing the old TSA [checkpoint].”

Project Management

Creative problem solving and collaboration among stakeholders was key as renovations progressed around the concourses. Taking down one gate at a time, erecting temporary walls and working with airlines to reroute passenger flow helped ease disruptions.

To help keep the project on track and stakeholders informed, Jaynes (the construction manager at risk), used building information modeling software to coordinate existing building systems with the new construction. OpenSpace software enabled personnel to walk the job site with a 360-degree camera, capture the scene in detail and integrate that snapshot view with interactive project maps. This provided a visual record of progress that was shared with project stakeholders.

“There were times when it was pretty stressful and difficult, but we had a small army here,” Manriquez recalls. “Because it was a CMAR [construction manager at risk] project, the architect was with us—and still is with us—every step of the way.” Manriquez says working with a CMAR is particularly effective on projects that impact concessions or when a project touches public areas passengers are moving through. The delivery method also proved to be beneficial from a cost and time management perspective, he notes, adding that an integrated planning structure is “super critical” to ensure representation from project partners and relevant airport administration divisions.

The airport shut down one gate at a time to renovate boarding bridges and holdrooms.

Manriquez says he and his team learned a lot about managing complex projects—particularly allowing enough time and space to minimize impact to passengers while ensuring construction crews can progress. This will allow ABQ to be “more sophisticated at how we do impactful projects like this in the future,” he says.

There will be plenty of opportunities to leverage that valuable experience, as the airport is currently planning several projects: a new fire suppression system, airfield improvements, an inline baggage screen system and a new cell phone lot.

Experience Albuquerque

Because air travel can be stressful for passengers, ABQ leverages its concessions, art, storytelling and design to provide a more comfortable experience. “Something they can look at, feel and experience,” Manriquez explains.

The focus on local food and beverage options, coupled with visual artwork and live, cultural performances, is infusing a sense of pride in area residents, he reports. “We’re celebrating our history through our arts and cultural elements.”

Manriquez proudly emphasizes that local, recognizable brands account for 80% of ABQ’s new food and beverage program. “That’s a really important difference between local and recognizable local brands we’re putting forward,” he specifies. They include Laguna Burger, Teller Vodka, Sadie’s, Frank’s Chicken & Waffles, New Mexico Piñon Coffee and Indian Pueblo Kitchen. “It’s more reflective of the evolved food and beverage out there in the city and around the state,” he says.

“The refreshed and revamped concessions program reflects what travelers want and what we are seeing at many airports—a mindful investment in the customer experience by bringing in reflections of the local culture beyond art and design,” he adds. “Airports are very much investing in making their concessions programs more inviting.”

In addition to traditional built-in concessions spaces, ABQ is establishing a kiosk program called Ascend ABQ designed to help local micro-businesses get their feet wet in an airport environment. Ultimately, it will include up to six kiosks, with locations both pre- and post-security. “The program functions as an accelerator,” Manriquez explains. “It comes with training and marketing and logistical support so that local entrepreneurs can come in [to an airport] but not be taking a big risk in investing because we’re building the kiosk, we’re providing the infrastructure and the training.”

Manriquez expects Ascend ABQ to be mutually beneficial. “The program is really geared toward helping them develop the business acumen that is both specific to marketing their products in general, but also to marketing in an airport,” he relates. “And for us, the benefit is getting some interesting, but temporary, mixes of different, local products. That’s an exciting part of it.”

On a larger scale, ABQ works to enhance the local economy and change perceptions of Albuquerque by showcasing its unique cultural heritage and artistic talents. Dream of Flight: Sunport Reimagined is more than terminal renovations, Manriquez emphasizes. “It’s about celebrating history, investing in our live music program and rotating art exhibits, partnering with our neighbors to bring in artists and performers. Those are the kinds of opportunities we have and the investments that we have made.”