b'78 LFT TERMINALS 194 security cameras throughout the terminals public areas We were really holding that place together with bubble gumfive departure and arrival gatesand baling wire the last few years, Picou jokes. Because the old a new baggage handling system with new security screeningterminal was built pre-9/11, it wasnt designed to get passengers equipment through security checkpoints efficiently, and there was alwaysnew public address system the unknown of the equipment holding up. The fact they couldenergy-efficient LED lighting keep that old facility running for so long is testament to the maintenance team. There were chillers in that building that wereimproved landside and airside concessions 40 years old and still running. two nursing rooms for mothers an indoor relief area for service animals Listening to the CommunityOn the airfield, LFT was able to eliminate two hot spots inLafayette is located midway between Houston and New Orleans, the aircraft movement area because the new terminal is locatedabout 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The area is home to more farther from the taxiways than the old terminal. Project designersthan 625,000 residents of eight surrounding parishes, and is the also added more ramp space for overnight aircraft parking.financial, medical, educational, cultural and consumer capital of The new terminal has five gates, each with a new jet bridge.southwest Louisiana. LFT served a record 527,460 passengers in Currently, LFT has service from three airlinesDelta, United and2019 (267,100 enplanements and 260,360 deplanements) before Americanoperating out of four gates. The fifth gate is availabledropping to 239,534 passengers in COVID-stricken 2020. Total for other carriers as needed. If expansion is necessary in thepassenger traffic rebounded to 419,792 last year, with 211,948 future, the terminal has room to add two more gates to the south. enplanements and 207,844 deplanements.In addition to the specific improvements, Picou notes that thereBecause local residents played such an important role in is an overall peace of mind that comes with replacing a terminalfunding the new terminal, Picou and other LFT officials felt it was that had outlived its life. Although LFT is the fourth-busiest airportonly right to give them a say about how the facility would look. in Louisiana, it previously had the least square footage. After RS&H created three different terminal designs, the airport ruled out one because it was too costly and presented the other two to the community in a series of public meetings. All residents were invited to vote on the design they liked best, and more than 5,000 of them cast ballots. Broutin Sherill, a vice president with RS&H, notes that core features such as expandability and canopies to protect passengers from inclement weather were part of both designs, but the overall aesthetics of the two were quite different. Ultimately, the design called Journey, which honors Lafayettes history and culture, garnered the most votes. Spirit, theBROUTIN SHERILLother proposed design, was more focused on local aviation and the general topic of flight. Hometown Heritage The design team from RS&H selected terrazzo flooring with sweeping lines that curve to create dynamic patterns, representing the journey by French Canadians (Acadians), Spanish, Creole, and other people who settled the Lafayette area. The front canopy on the terminal incorporates the geometric shapes and distinctive red, blue and yellow color combination of the Acadian flag. The canopy also features a distinctive tree-inspired column that recalls the St. John Cathedral oak located in downtown Lafayette that is estimated to be 500 years old.The heart of the terminal is the rotunda area, with bar and restaurant concessions and a glass curtain wall that provides expansive views of the airfield. The insulated glazing units on the curtain wall are made of electrochromic SageGlass, which is programmed to automatically tint depending on the angle of the sun to enhance climate control.May | June 2022AirportImprovement.com'