St. Louis Lambert Int. Airport [airline/hub/operations/info]

addxb2 · Post3:39 PM - Jan 10#94012026-01-10T15:39+00:00

goat314 wrote:
dweebe wrote: ↑
3:26 PM - Jan 10
goat314 wrote: ↑
3:13 PM - Jan 10
So all these beautiful airports we've seen open the last few years and when it's St. Louis turn we're going to get a off-brand terminal with no local flare of nod to the city? Can't make this up. First Metrolink expansion is killed now we're getting a 3rd rate airport. St. Louis can't win for nothing.

I've never understood the whole "St. Louis must accept less" mindset.

I don't think anyone is demanding Lambert 3.0 be something like Doha, Singapore or Incheon. But apparently we are.
I dont understand it either. Even with the Metrolink. It's like our region has just accepted that we will never have a comprehensive rail system. Everything St. Louis does now is just half assed and mediocre. I dont see how we expect to compete going into the future with so many other cities doing amazing things with their infrastructure. Some of these cities are even smaller and less economically productive than St. Louis. Who is making these decisions?

You guys are crazy! Sorry, is your 37 miles of light rail including six underground stations, multiple flyovers, three airport stations, and a Mississippi trestle bridge not sufficient to you?

In the most classic STL way possible you’ve contorted a poorly written meeting minutes into a thesis on how STL gets worse.

Post3:44 PM - Jan 10#94022026-01-10T15:44+00:00

If anything, Southwest feels the need to say “please spend wisely” because they know St. Louis has an eye and history for architecture.

Post4:06 PM - Jan 10#94032026-01-10T16:06+00:00

ALSO ALSO

The fact that STL is repurposing the historic Yamasaki domes into the airports primary entrance already gives STL the leg up to other new airports in being iconic. That gateway does not exist in any of the new airports.

PeterXCV · Post4:19 PM - Jan 10#94042026-01-10T16:19+00:00

I guess this is an unpopular opinion here but I don't really think bigger fancier airports are a good place to put public money (as a frequent flyer).

dweebe · Post4:34 PM - Jan 10#94052026-01-10T16:34+00:00

PeterXCV wrote: ↑
4:19 PM - Jan 10
I guess this is an unpopular opinion here but I don't really think bigger fancier airports are a good place to put public money (as a frequent flyer).

Again, I don't think anyone is demanding the Lambert re-do be fancy.

goat314 · Post5:07 PM - Jan 10#94062026-01-10T17:07+00:00

addxb2 wrote: ↑
3:39 PM - Jan 10
goat314 wrote:
dweebe wrote: ↑
3:26 PM - Jan 10

I've never understood the whole "St. Louis must accept less" mindset.

I don't think anyone is demanding Lambert 3.0 be something like Doha, Singapore or Incheon. But apparently we are.
I dont understand it either. Even with the Metrolink. It's like our region has just accepted that we will never have a comprehensive rail system. Everything St. Louis does now is just half assed and mediocre. I dont see how we expect to compete going into the future with so many other cities doing amazing things with their infrastructure. Some of these cities are even smaller and less economically productive than St. Louis. Who is making these decisions?
You guys are crazy! Sorry, is your 37 miles of light rail including six underground stations, multiple flyovers, three airport stations, and a Mississippi trestle bridge not sufficient to you?

In the most classic STL way possible you’ve contorted a poorly written meeting minutes into a thesis on how STL gets worse.

The most impressive parts of Metrolink were done over 30 years ago. What have we done impressive lately? Anybody who travels knows that St. Louis has subpar and rundown infrastructure for a metropolitan area of nearly 3 million.

addxb2 · Post5:31 PM - Jan 10#94072026-01-10T17:31+00:00

I think maintenance of infrastructure and building grand things is different. I believe St. Louis (public, private, non-profit) has imagination and ability to build grand things and does so very often. Arch Grounds, One Hundred, Powell Hall, Brickline, and the Zoo's North County Wilderness Park are my favorites this decade.

bwcrow1s · Post7:32 PM - Jan 10#94082026-01-10T19:32+00:00

PeterXCV wrote: ↑
4:19 PM - Jan 10
I guess this is an unpopular opinion here but I don't really think bigger fancier airports are a good place to put public money (as a frequent flyer).

Isn't this, by lion's share, airline money?

I would even be for dumping a chunk of rams money on this to make it world class. It's the first touch point for our fair region, and it's an investment in our future.

PeterXCV · Post7:45 PM - Jan 10#94092026-01-10T19:45+00:00

I just don't agree, I've been to a lot of airports and except for DCA being a particularly crappy one, I don't remember almost anything about them.

BarryGlick · Post8:42 PM - Jan 10#94102026-01-10T20:42+00:00

I don't remember almost anything about them.
The difference from the old LGA to the new is memorable

Trololzilla · Post7:02 AM - Jan 11#94112026-01-11T07:02+00:00

What I said on A.Net: this is really the airport's one and only chance to "get it right", so to speak (at least in any of our lifetimes), so it really does need to be 'nice'. Not saying it needs to be Singapore or Bangkok - you can definitely have 'nice' while focusing on practicality/function - but if it isn't at least above MCI then the airport and the city have failed IMO.

matguy70 · Post4:28 AM - Jan 13#94122026-01-13T04:28+00:00

You all are exhausting to read. Seriously, there is literally nothing laid out or presented yet.
These boards get more and more cynical and negative. You're putting the horse before the wagon.
In addition, this isn't some off brand architectural firm (like KC got)... this is HOK... their headquarters city, their showcase city and they are not going to lay out a piece of crap, or lame duck.
I spoke with a friend today about this thread, who was (retired) the Urban planner for the city of STL, and is still very actively involved with discussions. His response was that the budget is still.at 3 to 3.2 billion. That hasn't changed. The design and overall astetics will still impress. He reminded me that the budget is more than double what Kansas City had. More than double what Pittsburgh's new central terminal is costing now. He also added though that even in todays costs, 3 billion is still far from what those airport budgets were given yesrs back. He also mentioned that in STL we are able to maintain operations better while consolidating the airport during consturction which in turn does not cost the airlines more money or loss of current operations and still being able to expand while costruction continues. I guess he means that the airlines can still.add service and utitlize more gates during construction. One of thing I think her said was interesting is that the main terminal building is in good shape and had been recently renovated and the under construction new airfield maintenance project is not part of the terminal expense, which many of the other new terminals had to add in. He chuckled when he talked about KCs airport. He said they just "had" to spend 35 million on 30 some glass jetways that have already had window glass "failures" and costly upkeep and cleaning. He said that the airport director "wanted them" so they could be one of the only US airports with them. He said... you spend 3 to 4 minutes in those things - who cares about your experience there! He honestñy said... they got screwed with and industrial looking building with glass jetways attached. LOL

jshank83 · Post4:55 PM - Jan 13#94132026-01-13T16:55+00:00

^ Yes the airport will be nice. But I know they are way over budget at the moment and have had to pull back what they originally planned due to rising costs. But yes the actual budget has not been lowered. It has more to do with costs are making what the wanted to build more expensive than planned.

Now I don’t know what the original plan was or what the “pull back” is. So maybe originally it was over the top and they have to settle on something more “normal”? Not sure the right word to use. I also know it is described as utilitarian design.

That all said I will save any judgment until we see some renderings since at this point it is all just guesses. It won’t be done cheaply either way. And it will be much better than the current airport.

RuskiSTL · Post4:37 AM - Jan 14#94142026-01-14T04:37+00:00

If they don't have the money to "make it nice", I hope they at least make it minimalist. That will help future-proof a lot better. I remember when Newark opened like 10 years ago, at first it was shiny and new. About 2 years ago, it looked terrible. Everything was worn out, dirty, and nasty. I remember a bunch of TVs had missing panels, seats were all scratched up, and just grease and gunk everywhere.

The new LGA is fantastic. Definitely boosts the patriotism!

ldai_phs · Post6:09 AM - Jan 14#94152026-01-14T06:09+00:00

jshank83 wrote:^ Yes the airport will be nice. But I know they are way over budget at the moment and have had to pull back what they originally planned due to rising costs. But yes the actual budget has not been lowered. It has more to do with costs are making what the wanted to build more expensive than planned.

Now I don’t know what the original plan was or what the “pull back” is. So maybe originally it was over the top and they have to settle on something more “normal”? Not sure the right word to use. I also know it is described as utilitarian design.

That all said I will save any judgment until we see some renderings since at this point it is all just guesses. It won’t be done cheaply either way. And it will be much better than the current airport.

Roof design and ceiling heights first and foremost.

c2city · Post5:46 PM - Jan 14#94162026-01-14T17:46+00:00

I hope they at least build a beautiful, flexible, and spacious structure that can be built out on the inside in amazing ways as needs change. I think the only thing one can be sure about of the future of aviation is that the experience and needs will change dramatically over time.

I also hope it can be added onto with more gates with a seamless consistent appearance down the road.

JaneJacobsGhost · Post7:08 PM - Jan 14#94172026-01-14T19:08+00:00

I hope they build something like the main terminal at DTW. Can that be done for $3-3.2B?

Post7:11 PM - Jan 14#94182026-01-14T19:11+00:00

Does Lambert use the SW/NE oriented runway for any commercial traffic?

NJB1981 · Post7:11 PM - Jan 14#94192026-01-14T19:11+00:00

I'm very nervous about the entrance. I feel like the domes are too close to the highway and don't provide enough room currently to fit everything that is needed. The rest of the concourses I have no worry about, but the entrance is what makes me nervous.

dbInSouthCity · Post7:28 PM - Jan 14#94202026-01-14T19:28+00:00

JaneJacobsGhost wrote: ↑
7:08 PM - Jan 14
I hope they build something like the main terminal at DTW. Can that be done for $3-3.2B?

Construction budget won’t be 3-3.2b

That was the all in cost. Design, moving terminals during demo, the snowplow opts relocation and bunch of other enabling projects

addxb2 · Post7:30 PM - Jan 14#94212026-01-14T19:30+00:00

Here is the rendering

Here is what I think it’ll look like. The concourse will be simplified architecturally.

ldai_phs · Post7:37 PM - Jan 14#94222026-01-14T19:37+00:00

addxb2 wrote:Here is the rendering

Here is what I think it’ll look like. The concourse will be simplified architecturally.

Good start. I’d expect ceilings heights more akin to Kansas City

jshank83 · Post8:44 PM - Jan 14#94232026-01-14T20:44+00:00

JaneJacobsGhost wrote: ↑
7:11 PM - Jan 14
Does Lambert use the SW/NE oriented runway for any commercial traffic?

On very windy days yes where it lines up better with the wind. Yes

Post8:45 PM - Jan 14#94242026-01-14T20:45+00:00

addxb2 wrote: ↑
7:30 PM - Jan 14
Here is the rendering

Here is what I think it’ll look like. The concourse will be simplified architecturally.

That was before HOK was hired. I wouldn’t read anything into it besides the footprint

dweebe · Post8:56 PM - Jan 14#94252026-01-14T20:56+00:00

This is what we'll get, because it's all we deserve.

St. Louis Lambert Int. Airport [airline/hub/operations/info]

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