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Lambert International's Experience Project

Lambert International's Experience Project

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PostMar 28, 2007#1

Here's a .pdf presentation by Lambert Airport officials, which was presented to the Downtown St. Louis Partnership. The $105-million plans for upcoming improvements are pretty nice. New wayfinding signs, new airport gateways (three of them), new restrooms, the canopy, an improved main terminal and improved ticket counters.



Below are some renderings, but there are a lot more in the .pdf file.



This thread is for the Lambert International Airport Experience Project only. Please don't post comments about flights and runway expansion here.



Go here for the .pdf presentation.
































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PostMar 28, 2007#2

WOW :D

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PostMar 28, 2007#3

Double Wow!

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PostMar 28, 2007#4

Just getting rid of the rubberized "lego" floor and chrome-striped "80s music video" ceiling will do wonders for the terminal.

PostMar 28, 2007#5

By the way, I love this woman in their demo. Who does she think she is? Betty Page? :P


Arch City wrote:


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PostMar 28, 2007#6

Kinda sad that theyre losing the airplane there but those hangy things are very trendy... so Ive heard

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PostMar 28, 2007#7

Sweet lets get it done and start allocating $ to redo the concourses.

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PostMar 28, 2007#8

Great slide show. slide 47 and 51 were both very interesting. I didn't know they were opening up the bagage claim area by lowering the arrivals drive and adding windows. Our arrivals section as it stands now is a joke.



I hope they stick to these plans 100%! And if they "don't have the money" maybe St. Louis' "big guys" will step up to the plate, this is IMPERATIVE for our region. Our airport -as it stands- is THE biggest embarrassment of the region.



Idea:

I wish they could add two more "domes" to the main terminal building, so that two sections could be completely open and free of any ticket counters, where people could actually look out across the runways and watch planes take off and land. Originally, there were only three, they added one more in the late 50's/60's.

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PostMar 28, 2007#9

Minoru Yamasaki must be turning over in his grave.



Sure, it jazzes the place up a bit, but it totally obscures his brilliant (and ahead-of-its-time) design. Have the architectural preservationists weighed-in on this yet?

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PostMar 28, 2007#10

Doesn't the 4th photo down show a different version without the new canopy - preserving the view of the current terminal, or am I missing something?

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PostMar 28, 2007#11

Yeah, that confused me too.

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PostMar 28, 2007#12

Oh what an obnoxious presentation! C'mon guys, are any of you actually paying attention to this?



1. The new dome isn't necessary - why are we building a massive glass roof over 4 lanes of traffic? a few seconds of convenience? The ramp from parking to arrivals takes a grand total of 60 seconds to cross, if that - and you can go underground now if it's raining. The overhang in front of the drop off area is more than adequate. Also, the glass is going to act like a green house. You think St. Louis heat is bad now? Imagine the baggage handlers at curbside having to work under that in july. And who's gonna clean it? It'll look like crap in 2 months unless they clean it every week.



2. on page 15, they show the massive security line, then on the next page, they've basically just removed the security line and the planes. Where are the people? Has the consultant developed a way to eliminate lines and the need for security? I realize they said new security checkpoints, but they're not clearly marked (if even identified at all) on the preceeding maps - even if they put them inside the entrance to each terminal, the lines will STILL back up into that area cause C terminal is always the busiest. I also note they took out the seating area for people to meet/pick up their loved ones. Umm - so where are they going to wait now?



3. In the ticketing area, what have they done? They took out the big square thing - and replaced all the people of color working the desk with white folks, spruced up the desk areas (which isn't that the responsibility fo the airline running it?) - but again - where's the people!? I want these consultants working for MoDot - they apparently have some device that elminates lines and people.



4. I love pics 39 & 40. I dunno if that's a before and after shot, but it's hysterical. WOW! They hit the invert button, and all the black stuff turns white! It looks so much more lively now! :roll:



5. I will admit the arrivals are looks 100% better. Then again, it's hard to do worse.



I realize that someone was probably explaining all these points during the presentation, but they haven't adequately shown it in their slides. This is a lousy presentation for the public to digest.

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PostMar 28, 2007#13

There is a certain outdated charm about the current Lambert that I will truly miss. So many memories of embarking and returning from some of the best moments of my life are contained in those dark, obsolete corridors. It just won't be the same.



That said, it's time to call Sally Jesse Rafael and give old Lambert a makeover.

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PostMar 28, 2007#14

Well what can I say. Looking through the PDF and snazzy pictures aside, I am not so impressed. I like many of the ideas (opening the baggage claim to the drop off area, moving the combined B,C, and D, security lines into the lower ceilinged area, new coat of paint for the concourses), but other than those 3 I have some real concerns.



1. The Canopy is a nice fun idea and could be a great addition. But in terms of budget priority, this should be dead last. There are many other internal and external improvements I would make before this new canopy.



2. The Mid-level north location of the security lines is good. Almost everything else about the area is bad. The fact is that any plan for renovations should have made either opened this area up or used it for back office functions (i.e. the public should not step foot in this area). Neither seems to have happened and therefore, many passengers will still have a poor impression of Lambert. I am of the opinion that the worst part of Lambert in recent years has been moving from the ticket counters to the concourses, passing through the maze of dark low ceilinged areas under the ticket areas. The plan doesn’t seem to address this fatal flaw.



3. I am disappointed with the renovations to the ticket area. While I agree with the words they used to describe what the area should be (civic hall, gathering place) none of this occurs with their design. If St. Louis is going to spend crazy money on a Canopy here is a much better use for those funds: rip out the sh*tty bar and the Burger King at the western end of the ticket hall and instead place the ticket counters in a U shape in the main hall, with counters along the eastern, southern, and western walls. If more ticket counter space is needed, then also use the far western and eastern ends of the northern wall. At all costs, ticket counters should not be in place in the center two domes of the main hall. This way visitors can have an open and unobstructed view out to the field.

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PostMar 28, 2007#15

STLgasm wrote:There is a certain outdated charm about the current Lambert that I will truly miss.


Outdated, absolutely. Charm? Like weathered fake deer in yards along Clayton Road in Frontenac. No thanks. Lambert is the rusted above ground pool of "major" airports. At least they finally decided to get a can of rustoleum for it.


It just won't be the same.


Thank GOD.


That said, it's time to call Sally Jesse Rafael and give old Lambert a makeover.


HA!

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PostMar 28, 2007#16

migueltejada wrote:1. The new dome isn't necessary - why are we building a massive glass roof over 4 lanes of traffic? a few seconds of convenience? The ramp from parking to arrivals takes a grand total of 60 seconds to cross, if that - and you can go underground now if it's raining. The overhang in front of the drop off area is more than adequate.
I'm sorry, but the departures/arrivals roads are absolute crap. Get wet getting bags out of the car, get wet waiting for someone to pick you up, needlessly going from brown level to dungeon level and back up the stairs (if you can find them) to the ticketing level. Bring on the canopy and let there be light!
2. on page 15, they show the massive security line, then on the next page, they've basically just removed the security line and the planes. Where are the people? Has the consultant developed a way to eliminate lines and the need for security? I realize they said new security checkpoints, but they're not clearly marked (if even identified at all) on the preceeding maps - even if they put them inside the entrance to each terminal, the lines will STILL back up into that area cause C terminal is always the busiest. I also note they took out the seating area for people to meet/pick up their loved ones. Umm - so where are they going to wait now?
You obviously didn't look to closely at the picture or the maps. The security checkpoint, or at least the line of metal detectors, is just barely visible in the back of the picture on page 15. Check the maps again and you'll see the 9, likely optomistic, security lanes, almost double what's there now. The exit from security is near the B concourse. Now, about those low ceilings...
3. ... spruced up the desk areas (which isn't that the responsibility fo the airline running it?)...
I'm guessing the airlines rent the desk space and computer equipment from the airport which is how airport ticketing halls maintain a uniform look.
4. I love pics 39 & 40. I dunno if that's a before and after shot, but it's hysterical. WOW! They hit the invert button, and all the black stuff turns white! It looks so much more lively now! :roll:
Hey! Cut them some slack will ya! They probably worked really really hard coming up with the perfect color scheme or not.
I realize that someone was probably explaining all these points during the presentation, but they haven't adequately shown it in their slides. This is a lousy presentation for the public to digest.
PowerPoint slides should never ever be distributed in paper form. PowerPoint should be reserved for the actual presentation only. Any paper or electronic handouts should be in the form of a brochure, newsletter, or short paper.

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PostMar 28, 2007#17

WOW, indeed! The renderings look great. It reminds me of something you'd see in cities like Chicago (Ohare / Midway) and London (Stansted).

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PostMar 28, 2007#18

Based upon how long it has taken them to re do the main garage, it would take about a million years to implement these plans...if they do it, it would be awesome, but Lambert doesnt have the best track record for doing things well or on time, although the new director seems to have more of a clue than Griggs...I'll still believe it when I see it...

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PostMar 29, 2007#19

I like it overall. The proposed canopies seem to complement the rounded rooflines of the exisiting terminal.

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PostMar 29, 2007#20

I'm sorry, but the departures/arrivals roads are absolute crap. Get wet getting bags out of the car, get wet waiting for someone to pick you up, needlessly going from brown level to dungeon level and back up the stairs (if you can find them) to the ticketing level. Bring on the canopy and let there be light!


So we should build a $50 mil structure to save people the minor inconvenience of waiting in the rain? We can build a functional cover that works for about 1/10th of the price. Have a shelter in the waiting area like they've already designed, and have a roof over the walkway only. That way, people don't get wet, and the city doesn't spend money it doesn't need to. I understand the need for some decorative architecture, so they can vault it if they want. Voila - I just saved the city $45 million in building an another 500k a year in maintenance and cleaning.



I've looked over those drawings again - I see the 9 gates (which won't happen cause they're going to lose two right at the top there, where they hit a wall - unless they expect the staff to cram in there). Help to make sure I've oriented myself right - are they at the beginning of the gates, right after the ticket counters? Like, instead of going down the escalator, I run into the security gates before i get there? Is that right? If that's the case, then the security will bottleneck into the ticketing area.



Looking again - I saw the glass wall in baggage and didn't think anything of it - and then I saw what they're doing - they're demolishing the underground part, and rerouting traffic, and switching the carousels with the car rental booths. That's how they're going to get the light in. Looks bloody fantastic - IF they can manage to do more demo work to the garage without making it even worse!



I still think their work on the concourses themselves so far is $hit. That's so half assed it's not even funny. They're part of the problem at lambert - a fresh coat of white paint is NOT the solution.

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PostMar 29, 2007#21

mophipsi wrote:Based upon how long it has taken them to re do the main garage, it would take about a million years to implement these plans...if they do it, it would be awesome, but Lambert doesnt have the best track record for doing things well or on time, although the new director seems to have more of a clue than Griggs...I'll still believe it when I see it...


They did a $1 billion runway expansion ahead of schedule and under budget.



The entire construction process of the runway is considered a model for airport expansion.

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PostMar 29, 2007#22

So we should build a $50 mil structure to save people the minor inconvenience of waiting in the rain? We can build a functional cover that works for about 1/10th of the price.

I still think their work on the concourses themselves so far is $hit. That's so half assed it's not even funny. They're part of the problem at lambert - a fresh coat of white paint is NOT the solution.


I think these are somewhat at odds. Of course they could build a nice extended awning, but covering the area would be great. A fresh coat of paint is functional - but of course no one thinks it looks great. A full awning would be functional and look great.

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PostMar 29, 2007#23

ideally, they would tear down and rebuild each concourse, one at a time, since we now have some free space...

I had the same concern too about the canopy being a giant green house and keeping it clean. If you look at the one slide showing how open it is on either side, you can tell it will not hold the heat.

I too noticed the models (white) working behind the desks. I also liked the woman that looked like she was walking into the VP Ball and I really was impressed by the girl smoking the cig outside.

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PostMar 29, 2007#24

migueltejada wrote:
So we should build a $50 mil structure to save people the minor inconvenience of waiting in the rain?


Where did it say the glass covering would cost 50mil? I highly doubt the glass awning alone would be nearly that much.

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PostMar 29, 2007#25

JCity wrote:ideally, they would tear down and rebuild each concourse,


It's a freaking LANDMARK! The main terminal building is one of the few modern buildings in St. Louis that has been internationaly acclaimed. Haven't we gotten over this kind of "tear down and build new" mentality?

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