urbanSTL

There would be no way the domes would be torn down for historical preservation reasons. 

The main objectives on this work are getting amenities updated, allow for Southwest to have a better connection experience since their area is strung out due to only having gates on one side, and to expand the international arrivals since its very hard to get much more in than they do now due to capacity and size restraints.

^I don't think anyone did. I'm just having a pedantic moment. JShank isn't wrong, they're going to redo virtually everything but the domes. But to me the domes ARE the terminal. And when the place was first built, that was pretty close to the case. You had a parking lot, the domes, and some fancy covered walkways out to the planes that just happened to be about where the concourses would eventually be built. It's semantics, really.

^Here here. And please forgive me if my pedantic obstinance about terminology caused any confusion. I really need to work on that.

^There's a viewing deck at Haneda? Completely missed that when I was there a few weeks ago. I'll have to look next time I'm there.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2023

^There's a viewing deck at Haneda? Completely missed that when I was there a few weeks ago. I'll have to look next time I'm there.

All the airports I've flew in and out of in Japan (Fukuoka, Kansai, Narita, Sendai, etc) had viewing decks, some even had little play areas for kids and a gallery where you can learn history of the airport and the area. I wished more airports in the US have official viewing areas pre-security, some do like Raleigh-Durham and SFO, but most don't. Too bad the new KCI didn't build a viewing deck, though one could probably stay on the highest level of the parking garage and plane spot from there. Hopefully STL will incorporate a viewing area for aviation enthusiasts in the rebuild.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Feb 24, 2023

^A minor request: can we quit using the word "terminals" when we mean "concourses"? It's a nitpick, I know, but T1 is staying in the current plan and I'd fight any proposal to demolish it. T2 might stay too, though it will be repurposed. But the A, B, C, D concourses, and probably E will all meet the wrecking ball. And that's as it should be, much as it pains me. They've outlived their useful life. But stay away from the domes, dang it! They're fine!

LOL.. I figured it was implied that the domes would stay put since it is an architectural gem and desire to keep it preserved, but you're right - moving forward, I'll be sure to refer to the concourses instead of referencing the entire terminal.

I haven't dug through the list of 99 airports receiving Fed grant money to see if Lambert got at least a silver of the pie but another big slush of infrastructure money was doled out.   Also DOT grant money to reconnect neighborhoods pushed out.   I think POTUS admin is going small ball as both grant announcements have a lot of awardees but a lot of small amounts.   Big Airport winners included Salt Lake, Chicago Ohara and Des Moines.  

https://www.enr.com/external_headlines/ ... 1021934J9T

UPI Top News

The Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday awarded $1 billion in federal funding to 99 different airports to help meet the growing demand for air travel.

10-intuition wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2023

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2023

^There's a viewing deck at Haneda? Completely missed that when I was there a few weeks ago. I'll have to look next time I'm there.

All the airports I've flew in and out of in Japan (Fukuoka, Kansai, Narita, Sendai, etc) had viewing decks, some even had little play areas for kids and a gallery where you can learn history of the airport and the area. I wished more airports in the US have official viewing areas pre-security, some do like Raleigh-Durham and SFO, but most don't. Too bad the new KCI didn't build a viewing deck, though one could probably stay on the highest level of the parking garage and plane spot from there. Hopefully STL will incorporate a viewing area for aviation enthusiasts in the rebuild.

It's funny that you should mention that, as Lambert had a viewing deck when it was built. You can still see the doors to it in the main terminal. (They're locked now and off limits, but they appear to go out onto the roof of concourse B. Which is where the deck stood.) And there's a lovely little airport themed play area in C, complete with kiddy control tower and a Metrolink car. The new play area at KCI feels quite similar. (And is also a nice touch.) And they often use the gallery space on the lower level near the exit from C for aviation history displays, including displays on the history of Lambert. Which is a theme that fits nicely with the Black Aviators mural across from it and the aviation history mural that used to be at the main exits to the garage. Truth is, as it stands, the main terminal itself is actually a pretty darn good viewing area, though it was better when they had tables and chairs next to the windows. It's not quite a deck, but I've spent many a happy hour watching planes take off and land from those windows.

And I sit for a while plane-spotting at counters in clubs at both Haneda and LAX. Again, not quite a viewing deck, but it wasn't at all bad. I'll look for the decks next time I'm back in Japan. They're outside security you say? That might be the issue. This trip I didn't leave the airport, as the layover wasn't really long enough and my usual traveling companion is one to want to go through security as soon as possible unless there's family time to be had landside.

dredger wrote: ↑

Mar 01, 2023

I haven't dug through the list of 99 airports receiving Fed grant money to see if Lambert got at least a silver of the pie but another big slush of infrastructure money was doled out.   Also DOT grant money to reconnect neighborhoods pushed out.   I think POTUS admin is going small ball as both grant announcements have a lot of awardees but a lot of small amounts.   Big Airport winners included Salt Lake, Chicago Ohara and Des Moines.  

https://www.enr.com/external_headlines/ ... 1021934J9T

UPI Top News

The Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday awarded $1 billion in federal funding to 99 different airports to help meet the growing demand for air travel.

I don't think they did if I remember correctly. They aren't far enough along yet to apply for it. I think they assume there will be some there for them in the future.

^I could possibly end up in Amsterdam one of these days. Don't see myself flying to Albuquerque, but . . . you never know. Been a long time since I was out that way. I'll try to file these away for future reference.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Mar 02, 2023

^I could possibly end up in Amsterdam one of these days. Don't see myself flying to Albuquerque, but . . . you never know. Been a long time since I was out that way. I'll try to file these away for future reference.

The ABQ one is indoors behind security just as an fyi. It’s in a 2nd level and a nice place to kill time though.

AMS is pre security and outside on the roof. They even have an airplane up there you can go in.

Even appears to be a Dutch airplane. Looks to be either a Fokker 70 or a 100. Hard to complain about having an airplane to play with.

I had a 4+ hour layover in LAS last year so I ventured around the most of the airport (it was cool seeing the same places in person that I've seen in numerous movie scenes) and I ended up on the top deck of the employee parking garage. It had an awesome view of the airport and all the airfield activities, the strip and most of Vegas.

I'd like to have something similar here when the new parking garage(s) are constructed. A large, open upper deck short-term parking garage that can double as an observation deck.

Trololzilla wrote: ↑

Mar 04, 2023

sc4mayor wrote: ↑

Mar 03, 2023

While it's certainly not a great vantage point for the airfield, I would think the long, windowed hallway between the terminal and the train station would provide a nice view once the new terminal gets up and running.  Accessible pre-security too.  Would be cool if the airfield facing steel fence on the MetroLink platform could be replaced with a glass wall...that would be a cool vantage point.

That'd be nice. 

I wonder if AA would move their current Admirals Club space to a new one with the new concourse? If so, I wonder if that space could be repurposed into some kind of viewing lounge. Should be pre-security with the new layout, right?

The current one will be part of the demolition.