Slated for completion in early 2011, the new $383 million 640,000 square feet T2 will serve as the airline’s home base and will be the first LEED-Gold certified airport terminal in the US.
Known for its sustainable practices and inventive design, Virgin America informed the T2 design concept process from the earliest stages of development. With the airline’s investment in the space, it is anticipated that Virgin America’s T2 spaces will ultimately achieve the highest possible LEED Platinum-certified status. Virgin America will occupy seven of 14 gates in T2.
Some of T2’s sustainable design elements include: the vast utilization of natural light; modern ventilation systems that require 20% less energy and a reclaimed water reuse program; ‘Hydration Stations’ that allow flyers to fill reusable water bottles once past security, reducing the volume of waste created by single-use water bottles; Slow Food vendors that employs organic food vendors, offering wholesome food grown locally and prepared in a healthy manner; completing a Multi-Modal Hub: T2 will connect to the Bay Area Regional Transportation System (BART), so that employees and travellers alike can easily travel from airport to city on mass transit; and abundant natural light by way of skylights and clerestories, significantly reducing electricity usage in the day.
Contractors recycled about 90% of construction and demolition debris from the T2 project. SFO requires ongoing source separation of all recyclable solid waste to enable the attainment of 75% recycling by 2010 and 90% recycling by 2020.
Uniquely ‘Virgin’ features in the airline’s T2 space include: ‘mood-lit’ LED ticket counters that mirror the airline’s distinctive cabin mood-lighting, which transitions based on outside light; gates designed with beautiful ‘living room’ like spaces; upscale ‘Slow Food’ concessions with a focus on locally-produced menus; common spaces that allow travellers to shop, relax, work, eat and play within visual sight of their gate; T2’s ‘Recomposure Zone’ creating a stress-reducing oasis for travellers and feature a hanging art installation entitled ‘Air Ocean’ by Janet Echelman; laptop plug-in stations, elevated work counters and free wireless throughout; and a baggage claim area with illuminated soffits inspired by San Francisco’s distinctive cloud patterns.
The area is described by designers as a hybrid piece of ‘kinetic art,’ exposing how the device delivers bags to travellers, while also efficiently distributing conditioned air.
