The airport expands, but its special style remains

New Mexico Business Journal, August, 1995 by William B. Davis

It wasn't so long ago that Albuquerque residents would gather at the old airport on Sunday afternoons to gaze in wonder at the latest gleaming red and white Lockheed Super G Constellation with the TWA logo parked at the unique adobe-style terminal building waiting for its passengers to board. The four propeller-driven engines would roar to life as it taxied to the end of the runway. This weekly attraction was unequaled by anything the city had to offer at that time - 40 years ago.

Times have changed and so has the airport. Mayor Martin Chavez recently sponsored the airport's name change to the Albuquerque International Sunport, a combination of its two previous names. Passengers can be overheard voicing their approval of the unique character of the terminal. Throughout the United States, and possibly the world, there is no other airport which so completely reflects the unique multicultural heritage of its residents.

This uniqueness was achieved through the planners' and architects' creative combining of traditional Hispanic and Native American architectural elements and details, with modern materials and methods of construction. The massive stucco walls and brick floors, combined with the hand carved wood ceiling beams, brilliantly illuminated by the numerous clerestory windows and indigenous arts and crafts, announce to each visitor that Albuquerque is proud of its diverse cultural heritage.

The sunport is unique among airports in that it has its own private art collection. Highly prized Native American and Southwestern artwork is prominently displayed throughout the public spaces.

From the custom-designed light fixtures and replicas of the original furniture designs from the old terminal, to the computerized energy-saving lighting system and state-of-the-art security systems, passengers are treated to a total architectural design experience that adds to their traveling pleasure and safety.

Besides the beautiful aesthetics and state-of-the-art technology; the terminal is very "user-friendly." Passengers find it easy to transition from the A, B, C and D concourses and Upper Hall emerging via a bank of escalators into the airport's primary architectural feature, the Great Hall.

The expansive baggage claim areas, require only a short wait, after which the traveler exits to protected curbside pickup areas or out to the highly convenient parking garage located immediately adjacent to the main terminal.

BPLW Architects and Engineers, Inc. of Albuquerque, in association with TRA of Seattle, Washington, were the sunport's planners and designers for the last major expansion completed in 1989.

According to Charlie M. Otero, AIA, a senior principal at BPLW, the airport is the largest and most complex multi-contract construction project ever completed in New Mexico. Due primarily to the leadership of Albuquerque's city council, mayor, public works department, and the former director of the city's aviation department, Lowell Pratte, the 1989 expansion was built for a cost of $120 million, under BPLW's original estimate, and completed six months ahead of schedule.

The firm has continued to oversee all architectural and engineering design work on the terminal facilities. Otero, who has worked on various airport projects for the past 15 years, is overseeing the current expansion. He is coordinating BPLW's efforts with Hanson Scott, the aviation director. Expansion construction, now underway, will cost more than $8 million. It is scheduled to be completed in June 1996.

"The new expansion, will add four gates, in addition to relocating three existing gates in Southwest Airlines' portion of the A Concourse. The expansion was included in the original master plan, however, no one at that time thought it would be needed so soon.

While all airlines serving the sunport are experiencing record numbers of passengers (6.2 million last year), Southwest has led the way with 2.7 million, almost half of the total. Southwest's volume, for the most part, has spawned the additional need for more gates. The new gates should accommodate the future needs of Southwest and the other carriers, Delta, United, American, US Air, TWA and Frontier.

Several of the airlines, including Southwest, will share A concourse gates while the construction takes place. Southwest frequent fliers will be aware instantly of the gate location changes, but there will be little if any inconvenience to the passengers, Otero says.

"Designing and constructing a modern airport is a highly challenging but very rewarding process," Otero says. BPLW architects and engineers have managed the merging of diverse elements to arrive at a design that solves the many problems of coordinating pedestrian traffic flow, ground transportation, airplane arrival/departure parking areas, airplane servicing, security systems, telecommunications and special lighting systems, baggage handling, food and concessions areas, passenger arrival and drop-off areas, vehicular approaches to the terminal and the 3,400-car, three-level parking garage.