International Arrivals Facility of Seattle-Tacoma by SOM

International Arrivals Facility

SOM is the lead designer and architect of record for the Port of Seattle’s new, expanded International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). The facility will double the airport’s capacity to handle the increasing number of international flights and destinations over the next 25 years, enhance the international passenger experience, and position the Puget Sound region as a leading tourism and business gateway for the traveling public.

The new IAF is a multilevel, 450,000-square-foot facility located east of Sea-Tac’s current Concourse A. It features an iconic aerial walkway—the uppermost portion spanning 770 feet—that connects international arrivals from the south satellite terminal, across the top of Concourse A, to the new space. The efficiency and design of this secure international corridor will allow the airport to serve an increased number of international flights and passengers each day—capacity is expected to increase to 2,600 people per hour.

The design of the facility will increase from 12 to 20 the number of gates capable of serving international wide-body aircraft, as well as the number of Passport Check booths and kiosks, from 30 to 80. It will extend the size and number of baggage claim carousels from four to seven and create a single-bag claim process. It will also form direct access to ground transportation and further minimize passenger connection times from 90 to 75 minutes.

The IAF project team includes SOM; Clark Construction Group; The Miller Hull Partnership; Patano Studio Architecture; Guy F. Atkinson Construction, LLC; KPFF Consulting Engineers; Madsen, Kneppers & Associates, Inc.; the Seattle office of Arup; and European bridge design specialists Schlaich Bergermann und Partner. The IAF is designed to achieve LEED® Silver Version 4 certification.

  • Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
  • Architect: SOM
  • Site Area: 220,000 ft2
  • Project Area: 494,839 ft2
  • Number of Stories: 3
  • Building Height: 115 ft
  • Year: 2020
  • Images: Courtesy of SOM

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