Source: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... a+makeover
Lambert to get a makeover
BY ELISA CROUCH
Of the Post-Dispatch
02/09/2005
Frank Wilson shines shoes in the lower level of the main terminal as an airport maintenance man works on the lights.
(KEVIN MANNING/P-D)
For years, many St. Louisans have complained about flaws they see in their airport: the road signs they call confusing, the stores they call boring, the concourses they call dingy.
"Look at the walls, the floors, the furniture," said Rich Goellner, 49, a travel consultant from O'Fallon, Mo., as he waited to meet someone outside Concourse A this week. "Everything needs to be upgraded."
After one month on the job, acting Airport Director Richard Hrabko said he's evaluating what can be done in the next few months to make the airport easier to navigate and more pleasant to fly through. He and members of Lambert's "turnaround" team appointed last year by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay have a list of improvements they want to accomplish, Hrabko said, and many of them involve upgrading Lambert's image.
"There's a lot of perception out there from folks that is not particularly favorable," he said. "Having said that, people who use it all the time notice the improvements, that things are getting better."
Last month, at a cost of $60,000, crews installed 11 electronic message boards in the Main Terminal's parking garage, directing people to levels where open spots tend to be more available. Airport officials have met with engineers about replacing signs around the facility with ones that are easier to read and follow.
The airport staff is looking into replacing the blue fabric-lined walls throughout the Main Terminal with something brighter. Hrabko said he is working to get free decorating advice from a firm willing to volunteer it. Also on the wish list is replacing energy efficient bulbs with brighter lights.
"If you look around the airport, it's not really dirty," said Gerard Slay, deputy airport director. "It's just dark."
"We're looking at a bunch of different things," Slay added. "We're adding food places, shopping. We're trying to make it better."
But not everyone agrees that upgrading image is money well-spent.
At the airport board meeting last week, commissioners approved a $6.6 million contract with American Building Maintenance, a Kentucky company, to clean airport restrooms for the next three years. The lowest bid was $1.4 million less, but promised 11 fewer janitors.
Airport Commissioner John Krekeler, who voted against the $6.6 million contract, noted the airport's drop in traffic since American Airlines slashed its schedule in November 2003.
"You've got a whole concourse that's empty now, except maybe two flights," Krekeler said. "That should have a huge impact on the effort to keep it clean."
He called the janitorial contract overkill.
Hrabko responded, "We need some overkill to improve the image of this airport." He said dirty restrooms hurt an airport's appearance.
Later, Krekeler said he doubted whether any money spent on improvements will increase traffic at the airport - another focus of airport officials.
"People aren't going to come to the airport because it looks nice," Krekeler said.
Travelers have tolerated the airport's dark, leaky passenger concourses for years, while other airports have added glitzy shops and open, airy terminals. Lambert's East Terminal, which serves Southwest Airlines, opened in 1998 and reflects the national trend.
The domed Main Terminal was built in the 1950s.
As she waited for her luggage, Jane Jones, 50, of St. Louis, observed, "It's a modern structure, it could be cool." But it looks like the ceiling hasn't been painted in years, she said. "It just feels like an airport that people haven't made an investment in."
Before retiring in December, former Airport Director Leonard Griggs focused most of his attention on airport operations - getting a new runway built on time and under budget.
What got lost, Hrabko said, are details that make airports enjoyable.
Hrabko walked the concourses Wednesday and said he'd like to hear better music coming from the speakers. He pointed to carpet in Concourse B that needs replacing, and headed to Concourse C, the wing dominated by American Airlines.
There, Chili's Too and CNBC News and Gift Shop are set to open by the end of next month, before throngs of basketball fans descend on St. Louis for the NCAA Final Four Tournament.
By fall, the concourse is expected to have two more restaurants, a Wolfgang Puck Express and a Jose Cuervo Tequileria. A Brooks Brothers store also is scheduled to open by fall.
Meanwhile, Hrabko said, the airport staff is looking for funding and putting together a schedule for other changes. Hrabko, who was appointed to lead Lambert until a permanent director is hired in April, is director of Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield.
"If I had all the money in the world," he said, "I'd rebuild the place."
Reporter Elisa Crouch
E-mail: ecrouch@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8119
Lambert to get a makeover
BY ELISA CROUCH
Of the Post-Dispatch
02/09/2005
Frank Wilson shines shoes in the lower level of the main terminal as an airport maintenance man works on the lights.
(KEVIN MANNING/P-D)
For years, many St. Louisans have complained about flaws they see in their airport: the road signs they call confusing, the stores they call boring, the concourses they call dingy.
"Look at the walls, the floors, the furniture," said Rich Goellner, 49, a travel consultant from O'Fallon, Mo., as he waited to meet someone outside Concourse A this week. "Everything needs to be upgraded."
After one month on the job, acting Airport Director Richard Hrabko said he's evaluating what can be done in the next few months to make the airport easier to navigate and more pleasant to fly through. He and members of Lambert's "turnaround" team appointed last year by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay have a list of improvements they want to accomplish, Hrabko said, and many of them involve upgrading Lambert's image.
"There's a lot of perception out there from folks that is not particularly favorable," he said. "Having said that, people who use it all the time notice the improvements, that things are getting better."
Last month, at a cost of $60,000, crews installed 11 electronic message boards in the Main Terminal's parking garage, directing people to levels where open spots tend to be more available. Airport officials have met with engineers about replacing signs around the facility with ones that are easier to read and follow.
The airport staff is looking into replacing the blue fabric-lined walls throughout the Main Terminal with something brighter. Hrabko said he is working to get free decorating advice from a firm willing to volunteer it. Also on the wish list is replacing energy efficient bulbs with brighter lights.
"If you look around the airport, it's not really dirty," said Gerard Slay, deputy airport director. "It's just dark."
"We're looking at a bunch of different things," Slay added. "We're adding food places, shopping. We're trying to make it better."
But not everyone agrees that upgrading image is money well-spent.
At the airport board meeting last week, commissioners approved a $6.6 million contract with American Building Maintenance, a Kentucky company, to clean airport restrooms for the next three years. The lowest bid was $1.4 million less, but promised 11 fewer janitors.
Airport Commissioner John Krekeler, who voted against the $6.6 million contract, noted the airport's drop in traffic since American Airlines slashed its schedule in November 2003.
"You've got a whole concourse that's empty now, except maybe two flights," Krekeler said. "That should have a huge impact on the effort to keep it clean."
He called the janitorial contract overkill.
Hrabko responded, "We need some overkill to improve the image of this airport." He said dirty restrooms hurt an airport's appearance.
Later, Krekeler said he doubted whether any money spent on improvements will increase traffic at the airport - another focus of airport officials.
"People aren't going to come to the airport because it looks nice," Krekeler said.
Travelers have tolerated the airport's dark, leaky passenger concourses for years, while other airports have added glitzy shops and open, airy terminals. Lambert's East Terminal, which serves Southwest Airlines, opened in 1998 and reflects the national trend.
The domed Main Terminal was built in the 1950s.
As she waited for her luggage, Jane Jones, 50, of St. Louis, observed, "It's a modern structure, it could be cool." But it looks like the ceiling hasn't been painted in years, she said. "It just feels like an airport that people haven't made an investment in."
Before retiring in December, former Airport Director Leonard Griggs focused most of his attention on airport operations - getting a new runway built on time and under budget.
What got lost, Hrabko said, are details that make airports enjoyable.
Hrabko walked the concourses Wednesday and said he'd like to hear better music coming from the speakers. He pointed to carpet in Concourse B that needs replacing, and headed to Concourse C, the wing dominated by American Airlines.
There, Chili's Too and CNBC News and Gift Shop are set to open by the end of next month, before throngs of basketball fans descend on St. Louis for the NCAA Final Four Tournament.
By fall, the concourse is expected to have two more restaurants, a Wolfgang Puck Express and a Jose Cuervo Tequileria. A Brooks Brothers store also is scheduled to open by fall.
Meanwhile, Hrabko said, the airport staff is looking for funding and putting together a schedule for other changes. Hrabko, who was appointed to lead Lambert until a permanent director is hired in April, is director of Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield.
"If I had all the money in the world," he said, "I'd rebuild the place."
Reporter Elisa Crouch
E-mail: ecrouch@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8119
