The pre-security UPMC Terrace offers a natural space to relax and connect
PITTSBURGH, JULY 29, 2025 — Airports built in the last 50 years were designed to get travelers from curb to gate as efficiently as possible. Opportunities to slow down, step outside and simply enjoy the experience have been few and far between.
The new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal is at the forefront of a growing trend in airport design that incorporates publicly accessible outdoor spaces as a key element of the passenger and visitor experience.
On Wednesday, the pre-security UPMC Terrace opened.
“If we look around today and take a look at what I think is probably the most beautiful outdoor space at a U.S. airport, and one that has been so carefully designed to allow for a Pittsburgh, western Pennsylvania, Allegheny County experience for travelers, as well as staff, to encounter the beauty of this area, and really, to just to feel better,” Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said at a ribbon-cutting event attended by regional and airport leaders.
The 36,000 square-foot UPMC Terrace features a walkway, seating and landscaping inspired by western Pennsylvania’s natural beauty. Visitors can access the terrace on the Arrivals Level at the Welcome Point near the VisitPittsburgh desk or between baggage carousels 5-8.
The pre-security terrace provides travelers, visitors and employees with access to fresh air, natural light and views of airport operations, intending to create moments of calm amid the often-hectic pace of travel.
“What I love most about it is — yes, the beauty and the accessibility — but really you don’t have to have club access or really be flying business class to be able to experience this beautiful space,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said in remarks at the Wednesday event. “This is for everyone.”
Other leaders spoke, including Allegheny County Council District 1 Rep. Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling, and James Taylor, UPMC’s senior vice president and chief culture, community and talent management officer.
Madonna-Emmerling, whose district includes the airport, said “From the architecture to the use of the native landscape, this airport reflects that our region is thriving, innovative and deeply committed to our natural beauty and to all who come here. The UPMC Terrace is a perfect example of that vision. It’s much more than an outdoor space. It represents a new way of thinking about airports.”
The terrace was made possible by UPMC and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
“The UPMC Terrace is much more than an airport amenity that we put our name on,” Taylor said before the event. “It is a special community space that reflects the energy, beauty and spirit of our region. It creates a healthier, more welcoming travel experience and reinforces Pittsburgh’s global reputation as a place that values innovation, well-being and community connection.”
“We applaud the leaders of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Pittsburgh International Airport for their vision, and we are proud to partner with them to bring this extraordinary gathering space to life for the residents of our region as well as visitors from all over the globe,” Taylor said.
Richard King Mellon Foundation Director Sam Reiman said PIT is known as a powerful symbol of Pittsburgh’s leadership in travel and tourism, and an important engine for regional economic development. “Now, with the opening of this new outdoor terrace,” he said, “the new airport also underscores Pittsburgh’s national environmental leadership.”
“Getting people outdoors and into nature is essential for health and well-being — and now people will have the opportunity to do so at the airport, while they are traveling. The Foundation is grateful to CEO Christina Cassotis for her creative leadership in prioritizing this novel airport amenity, and our Board was pleased to support it,” Reiman said.
Cassotis, Innamorato, Madonna-Emmerling, Taylor, Reiman and ACAA Chief Operations Officer Travis McNichols cut a ceremonial ribbon during the event and released painted lady butterflies into the terrace.
‘Redefining what it means to be an airport’
Another pre-security terrace on the Arrivals Level, as well as the Green Spine in front of the parking garage, and two additional post-security terraces, limited to ticketed passengers, will open at PIT in the future.
The terraces are part of an emerging trend but are still rarely found in American airports: space available to the public, where visitors and travelers can enjoy the outdoors. Most outdoor spaces in airports are part of airline clubs and are exclusive to lounge members, premium cabin passengers or those who purchase lounge access.
PIT is among the first major U.S. airports to incorporate multiple outdoor terraces directly into a new terminal design and to provide such space both before and after security. Most airports that offer outdoor public areas do so through observation parks, landside plazas or stand-alone viewing areas. Design such as that seen at PIT is part of a broader trend that emphasizes wellness, access to daylight and fresh air and stronger connections between airports and their communities.
“We are one of the few airports in the United States that has access to the outdoors like this without the cost of entering; you don’t have to pay, you don’t have to be a member of a certain club,” Cassotis said. “The terraces are redefining what it means to be an airport. I think this will surprise a lot of people, and people will say, ‘Oh, I had no idea you could do this.’”
Brian Gongaware, project architect with Gensler, who collaborated with HDR and luis vidal+architects in designing the new terminal, added, “It is uniquely Pittsburgh, and we are so proud that it came together the way it did. It’s going to create an experience unlike any in the United States.”
All are welcome
Although more airports both nationally and internationally are adding public spaces, many are located post-security. This makes PIT’s pre-security terraces a unique feature among airports.
“These terraces represent innovation in both design and airport planning, bringing local environments directly to passengers, meeters and greeters, staff and crew members,” Cassotis said. “They help people feel more comfortable and connected throughout the travel experience.”
Unlike most airport amenities that require a boarding pass, the UPMC Terrace is open to anyone visiting the airport. Families greeting loved ones, aviation enthusiasts watching aircraft activity or community members simply looking for a unique public gathering place can all enjoy the experience. Airport officials have described the terraces as part of a vision to make the airport more welcoming and connected to the community it serves.
“What makes PIT’s terraces so great is that the community can come out here,” Gongaware said. “They can spend time together. Whether your loved one just arrived home from a long trip or you just want to take a moment to catch up, these terraces provide that for you.”
A relatively small but growing number of U.S. airports also provide accessible outdoor spaces prior to security. These spaces are often designed as observation areas, public plazas, terraces or landside parks, but are not incorporated inside their terminals. Several of these airports include:
· Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Founders’ Plaza is a 6-acre observation park along the airport’s north side that offers clear views of active runways.
· Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) Aircraft Viewing Area is located outside the terminal and offers close-up views of aircraft taxiing, taking off, and landing, depending on runway use, while remaining safely outside the secure airfield.
· Denver International Airport’s (DEN) public plaza and outdoor spaces are the open-air areas surrounding the Jeppesen Terminal, particularly the plaza between the terminal and the Westin hotel and transit center.
Providing calm for passengers
According to Ken Greene, assistant professor of the practice in the college of business at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Fla., public outdoor spaces available only to travelers post-security are as equally important for airports that serve as hubs or “origin and destination” (O&D) airports, such as PIT.
“Passengers at a hub airport who have a significant layover in the city may simply like to stay on their concourse, maybe sit outside, get some fresh air and get out of the very busy terminal environment while not having to reengage security and start all over again,” Greene said.
For O&D airports, the post-security spaces also serve a large group of travelers who are worried about navigating the airport from check-in, security and getting to their gates.
“I personally know people who like to get to an airport early and want to be on the other side of security quickly,” Greene said. “They’ve got the ticketing done. They’ve checked bags. They’ve gone through security. Now they can relax a bit and make sure they’re at the gate when it’s time to depart. These terraces for O&D passengers have a similar positive impact on someone connecting, as they also have time. So, if you have time available. What do you do with it? Being outside is a great way to spend some time before heading to their gates.”
PIT joins other major American airports with outdoor spaces integrated into their new or updated terminal designs. Examples include:
· San Diego International (SAN) opened a 5,000-square-foot terrace late in 2025. The post-security terrace offers views of the harbor and includes an outdoor restaurant.
· New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) also added a post-security rooftop deck as part of its Terminal 5i project, which is accessible to all passengers.
Harkening back to earlier days of travel
By integrating both landside and airside outdoor spaces, PIT demonstrates how thoughtfully designed open-air environments can enhance the functionality, comfort and overall quality of major transportation facilities while advancing broader trends in public-oriented design.
The terraces also represent a return to an earlier era of aviation when airports were destinations in themselves. People routinely visited airports simply to watch aircraft arrive and depart.
Allegheny County Airport’s patio provided a terrific view of airfield traffic since its opening in 1931. The 1952 Pittsburgh International Airport terminal was specifically designed with multiple outdoor observation decks. It also featured the famous “Horizon Room” on the fourth floor, which offered panoramic views of the airfield and became the building’s most popular viewing area.
Throughout its 40-year history, countless visitors came to the airport just to sit on the observation deck and plane-watch. It was common to have wedding and prom photos taken on one of the decks or for families to spend an entire afternoon watching planes land and take off.
By the 1980s and 1990s, public observation decks became less common as security concerns increased and airports shifted toward maximizing passenger and retail space. After the 1992 midfield terminal opened, Pittsburgh lost the large public observation areas that had been a hallmark of the original terminal.
While the terraces don’t offer the same sweeping runway views that made the original observation decks a beloved attraction, they capture much of the same spirit — providing a place where travelers and visitors can slow down, enjoy the airport atmosphere, watch planes take off and land, and maintain a connection to the excitement of flight.
Historically, such outdoor amenities at airports were uncommon. Before the 2000s, most U.S. airports had little to no public outdoor areas, with security measures and land-use priorities limiting open space. Even when available, they were often restricted to small, seasonal features or private lounges. The post-9/11 era tightened security, making large, open-air areas harder to implement.
It’s only been in the last 10 to 20 years that airports have been exploring and opening green spaces, Green said.
“COVID made us very aware of our environments around each other and accelerated the trend of having outdoor public spaces,” Greene said. “Travelers wanted fresh air, a break from crowded terminals and even leg room to stretch out and relax.”
In an era when most airports have moved away from public gathering spaces, PIT is once again giving the community a place to experience the magic of aviation.
“I think what people are going to find is it’s a fantastic observation deck,” Cassotis said. “There are a lot of people who like to watch planes take off and land and this is a great place to do it.”
