New terminal opens at Indianapolis airport
The Indianapolis International Airport, seen from above, now features a new 1.2 million square foot terminal. The replacement terminal opened Nov. 11 and houses 38 domestic and two international gates . Also, the layout features two concourses which are each 1300 feet long by 100 feet wide.
By Micah McVicker | Staff Writer
The new, architecturally aggressive and environmentally conscious $1.1 billion Indianapolis International Airport terminal opened Nov. 11.
The site of the new, 1.2 million square foot airport features 38 domestic gates. Additionally, the airport contains two international/domestic gates constructed to serve the international flights that fulfill the “international” name in the airport title. The two concourses are each 1300 feet long by 100 feet wide.
Ripley Rasmus, lead architect of the project, told Indianapolis Monthly Magazine of the intention for the new airport.
“When I was hired, the powers that be told me, ‘this is not about race cars or Brown County. This is about our future,’” Rasmus said.
The security portion of the airport features more modern upgrades as well. The airport invested in nine Explosive Detection Systems. These units cost $1 million apiece and take a series of 2-D images around the bag and use the images to create a three-dimensional image. Software searches for any potential explosive devices.
Artwork in the new airport is also exponentially enhanced. The terminal features 35 pieces of art. This art is permanently placed within the terminal. The possibility of additional artwork pieces is possible as well. The current value of the permanent artwork is $4 million.
Nan Bohan, an Indianapolis resident who toured the airport before its opening found the new terminal to be much improved.
“The structure is built with green in mind with the big windows for natural lighting,” Bohan said. “There is so much art work in strategic places, like the huge mosaic of Indiana birds, wildlife and plants on the wall as you go into the security area. The security is organized to serve the seasoned traveler, families together, or strictly business commuters.”
The Indianapolis International Airport opened its new terminal on Nov. 11. The $1.1 billion terminal features a more environmentally-friendly structure and up-to-date security measures.
After 30 years of planning, the new airport replaces a ‘forgettable regional airport’, according to Bob Schultz, director of communications at the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association. An airport where the highest praise it receives is that it is functional. The now-replaced airport was characterized as plain, fatigued and overcrowded.
