Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Transforming Dulles


Redevelopment and design of Dulles AirportVirginia’s Dulles Airport has undergone tremendous changes in the past decade. In 2000, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) embarked upon a program of capital investment aimed at modernizing the airport and preparing it for future 21st century growth. After years of construction, many of the projects have recently been Dulles Airport Modernization, Virginiacompleted, wringing out a new aesthetic from the Eisenhower era design. Meanwhile, planners envision the next step of connecting the airport to the rail system now headed in its direction. With the Silver Line that will serve the airport as early as 2016, MWAA's construction of Phase I will extend it just past Tysons Corner by 2013, while planners debate where to situate the Metro station at Dulles. MWAA recently rejected a proposal to put an above-ground station in front of the main terminal, partly out of concern that it would block the view of the famous, if not universally beloved, Eero Saarinen-designed building (pictured, top, with permission from Andres Ramirez). Three alternatives remain, two underground, one above. The below-ground stations would be close to the terminal while the above-ground station would find a home at the daily garage, requiring passengers to drag luggage about 600 feet to reach the terminal. The original plan called for an underground station close to the terminal, but estimates of placing the station 600 feet away from the terminal project about $640 million of savings and don't require additional tunneling. Still, some commentators have argued for proximity, even with the additional cost, given the long-term benefits of an efficient rail connection, and point out that many fewer people took the Metro to National Airport before the new terminal opened in 1997 with a direct connection to the train station.

Within the airport itself, other improvements have elevated the dowdy atmosphere. After years of planning and construction, the new security checkpoint opened in late 2009 followed by the new AeroTrain in January 2010. Passengers nowDulles Airport Modernization, Virginia descend an escalator from the departure level to a new, 121,700 s.f. security screening area. Moving the security checkpoint opened the rear of Saarinen terminal (terminal interior pictured at right) to light and lifted congestion, making it possible to appreciate the aesthetics of the terminal today in a way that was not possible in the years following 9/11, when security checkpoints popped up like gophers in the rear of the terminal.

Dulles airport design, Virginia

Passengers now check-in on the departures level (see diagram, in green), descend an escalator to the new security mezzanine (red), and descend to the AeroTrain station (blue). Arriving passengers take an escalator from the AeroTrain station (blue) to the arrivals level/baggage claim (purple).

After passing through the TSA frisk lottery, passengers descend another level to the AeroTrain, which they take to their concourse - a Tron-like traveling system used in Dulles airport today.Washington DC real estate development news The AeroTrain system (pictured, above) has mostly replaced the sci-fi era mobile lounges, which for decades have transported passengers from the main terminal to their concourse or directly to their airplane. Some have operated since the airport opened in 1962.

Dulles is the ugliest airport in the United StatesOther airport renovations continue. Dulles airport transport system renovationConcourses C & D, built in 1985 as temporary concourses, still serve United’s large hub at Dulles Twenty-six years later.

Few will miss the old Concourse C with its low ceilings and lack of windows, or its cramped rush hour condition. The new Concourse C, which will be above the already-built AeroTrain station, will be a more open and brighter place to pass long airline delays.

With a conceptual Concourse C on the way, MWAA placed its AeroTrain station at the site of the future concourse rather than the temporary one. But plans for a permanent concourse are nowhere near finalized, and with an uncertain timeline (delivery could be as late as 2020), and airlines hesitant about expensive infrastructure improvements, travelers are stuck with Dulles airport renovation and redesignWashington DC real estate design newsa station several hundred feet away from the concourse itself, requiring another passageway between the AeroTrain station and the concourse (see picture, below). This will be ameliorated with the opening of the permanent concourse, but until then travelers will continue to enjoy the famously long walks within the airport. Passengers flying from Concourse D must still take the mobile lounges until the new concourse Washington DC commercial property development newsopens.

The other permanent midfield concourse, Concourse A/B, initially opened in 1998 and was extended in 2008. A modern, bright, and airy terminal (see picture, below. Copyright Dan Brownlee) it serves every other airline at Dulles, excepting United, whose passengers don't have use of this terminal.

airport design and security, Washington DC

Elsewhere at the airport, a new Air Traffic Control Tower opened in 2007. A fourth runway opened in 2008 and a fifth is planned. Unlike most airports in the country, Dulles' Virginia real estate development newsremoteness from urban centers - an inefficiency multiplying the expense of the rail line - endows it with a surplus of land for expansion in the coming decades, despite the persistent onslaught of sprawl. Dulles has seen a steady expansion of international flying over the last decade; in the last four years alone Dulles has gained non-stop flights to Rome, Geneva, Moscow, Accra, Istanbul, Doha, and Bogota.

To process the increased number of international passengers, MWAA renovated and expanded the Customs and Border Protection hall. When the expansion is complete this year, the facility will approximately double in size and capacity, processing 2,400 passengers per hour.

Virginia real estate development and design news

Over the years, despite the new look, MWAA has made a conscious decision to maintain airport signage in vintage 1960's/70's historic font. Due to smart planning and investment by MWAA a decade ago, Dulles Airport now has much of the infrastructure necessary to propel the airport forward in the coming decades. Once the Metro serves the airport, Washington D.C.’s two major airports will both have convenient rail access, a rare feat for an American city. The growth at Dulles will be even more substantial in coming years with development of the Silver line and growth of nearby Tysons Corner. By the end of the decade, Dulles's two modern concourses, direct rail service to downtown, and efficient security screening area should put an end to disparaging comments by travelers comparing Dulles to third world airports. And while many still don't consider the original design fetching or worthy of an international gateway, Dulles Airport has a come a long way towards becoming a world-class airport.

Story by Reese Davidson (RJDavidsondc @ gmail.com)

12 comments:

Daniel said...

Excellent write-up! Thanks for providing a comprehensive overview of all current and planned improvements.

Anonymous said...

Re the proposal to locate the station 600+ feet near the garage: i thought the plans called for a moving sidewalk from the station to the terminal. If so, there really wouldn't be any "lugging" of luggage (hmm...come to think of it, if you call it luggage, doesn't that mean anytime you move it it should be called lugging?)

Anonymous said...

Yes, great write up.

Is there any planning for the new C/D terminal? What kind of time would that project take, from when United (or someone) commits the money to when it opens for service?

Streets of Washington on Feb 8, 2011, 1:20:00 PM said...

Saarinen's Dulles terminal is unquestionably one of the most beautiful airports in the world. We are lucky to have such a spectacular landmark here in Washington.

Reese Davidson said...

There is already a walkway built from the parking garage to the terminal, so if they place the station 600 feet away from the terminal near the garage then it will link up with the already-built walkway. Still a schlep for passengers in an airport that already has a decent amount of walking.

Several years ago there were plans but they were put on hold and instead renovations were carried out on to make Concourse C/D a little more pleasant (new carpeting, etc). There is nothing siting on the land where the new concourse is to be built, so I imagine that if the money were committed tomorrow that construction could start in a matter of weeks or months. Of course the plans from a few years ago might have to be tweaked. United and Continental have merged since then, and the airline might have different operational requirements for the new concourse.

StreetsofWashington: I agree! It is very special. I hope more people appreciate it when flying from there...

Anonymous said...

The main terminal is beautiful - from the outside. I find it so dreary and depressing at night, with the terrible lighting and tired old terrazo floors.

Anonymous said...

Terrific writeup. As its often said you can't spell "Dulles" without D-U-L-L. Nice to see that the government-designed airport is moving from a spartan, utilitarian neo-Socialist vibe more fit for East Germany to a 21st Century portal to the world.

Anonymous said...

Actually this will be the DC area's third major airport with a rail link. BWI is very convenient by rail (MARC or Amtrak) to the BWI Airport station. There is a transfer to a frequent shuttle bus and a maximum 5 minute ride to the Southwest terminal. And Baltimore residents have direct light rail access to the airport, too.

Anonymous said...

Any reason why the new Aero-train doesn't connect to the equally new International Arrivals Hall? Kind of seems weird that these two new additions to Dulles don't overlap at all.

Reese Davidson said...

Although I consider BWI to be a DC airport, it won't have direct Metro access like DCA & IAD.

"Any reason why the new Aero-train doesn't connect to the equally new International Arrivals Hall? Kind of seems weird that these two new additions to Dulles don't overlap at all."

A very good question. They considered it when they were designing it, but as far as I know rejected the plan because of cost considerations. It's all the more weird because the tunnel for the AeroTrain runs very close to, if not right under, the new international arrivals hall.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Aero-Train/Int'l Arrivals Hall topic, it seems odd to me that the first view foreigners see of the United States are the (now) antiquated mobile lounges and not the state of the art train thingy. I just don't get it, I really don't.

Anonymous said...

Re: international arrivals, I'm guessing that it would be difficult to make all international passengers go through immigration/customs if they mingled onto the same train as passengers on domestic arrivals. As it is now, intl pax are herded onto mobile lounges headed to customs/immigration directly from the plane without even access to the restrooms/concessions in the concourses. I think the only alternative would be separate dedicated Aerotrain tracks from each of the concourses to the Intl Arrivals Building, which would be kind of pricey and excessive.

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