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AirportImprovement.com      November | December 2026
TERMINALS 
BUR
holdrooms for acoustic value, while terrazzo 
flooring with searchlight-themed patterns 
covers the main circulation spaces. 
“It’s a lot of subtle gestures,” says Brent 
Kelley, aviation sector leader from Corgan.
The design emphasizes simplicity, flexibility 
and sustainability, all in line with community 
and stakeholder desires, adds Kelley. “It is 
truly a project that captured the essence of 
what not only the community was looking for, but also defines 
that sense of place.”
Phillip Vogt, senior design-build manager with CannonDesign, 
saw the project as an opportunity to create something distinctly 
Burbank. “A terminal that responds to the scale and character of the 
community, while providing a much more modern, enjoyable and 
efficient passenger experience,” as he describes it. 
Vogt notes that the unique form of the buildings isn’t just 
an aesthetic statement; it also supports function, passenger 
movement, operations and constructability. The Icon concept 
“creates a recognizable architectural identity for the airport while 
also responding to the very practical requirements of operating an 
airport,” he explains. 
The airport’s previous terminal had low ceilings, worn carpet 
and what Hatanaka describes as “restricted gates” because 
not all 14 were sized to handle the latest aircraft. Six could only 
accommodate 737-700s, and only four could handle aircraft up 
to a 737 900 MAX. “It made for a real challenge for scheduling 
to determine how to get aircraft in and out,” he says. “It caused 
operational inefficiency and passenger flow inefficiency.”
As Hatanaka expected, passengers entering the new terminal 
are astonished by its volume of space—355,000 total square feet 
vs. the previous 232,000, and 20-foot ceilings rather than 8-foot. 
Upgraded technology from curb to gate allows passengers 
to stay connected; and common-use technology and a more 
efficient layout increases the operational flexibility even more, he 
adds. (See Page 16 for more about the technology elements.) 
Airside, 14 uniform-size hybrid gates are capable of handling all 
Class III aircraft—wide enough for a 737-MAX and long enough 
for an A321. 
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air 
Lines and American Airlines are BUR’s signatory carriers. “All of 
their aircraft can fit without us having to juggle,” Hatanaka says. 
BRENT KELLEY

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