Pittsburgh International Airport completed its Terminal Modernization Program, that cost around $1.7 billion, making it one of the major and most historic infrastructure projects of western Pennsylvania. 

The Terminal Modernization Program, managed by PJ Dick, Hunt Construction Group, and Turner Construction, has a terminal of 811,000 square feet and a parking garage that covers 1.1 million square feet, substantially changing the air travel experience the city provides and, at the same time, increasing its economy.

The new terminal brings check-in, security, and baggage operations together in a consolidated facility, and it also replaces a dated two-terminal process. The new terminal draws inspiration from Pittsburgh's landscape, featuring rolling rooflines and steel columns that evoke trees. 

The project includes a dual-level bridge, four outdoor terraces, and just about four miles of upgraded roadway that all enhance the passengers' journey from curb to gate. The modernization transforms PIT into a more approachable airport paradigm focused on local origins and destinations while enhancing the overall efficiency for departing and arriving commercial passengers.

Over 90% of materials and labor invested in the new PIT came from local sources. The endeavor produced an estimated $2.5 billion of regional economic activity and over 14,000 construction jobs. The airport's workforce initiative - PIT2Work - also helped to train students for careers in the trades, helping to ensure that the redevelopment benefitted not just the regional economy but also workforce development objectives.

“Being in this space feels good and that’s a big statement for an airport today,” said Christina Cassoties, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, describing the new facility as “inspirational” during the ribbon-cutting ceremony held earlier this month.

PIT's just-finished terminal is on track for LEED Gold certification, fueled by PIT's solar- and natural gas-powered microgrid, one of the first in the country. The sustainability-based design was done by HDR, Gensler, and Luis Vidal + Architects, pairing modern technologies with natural characteristics that exemplify Pittsburgh.

The opening comes after several years of high-profile airport projects in airports all over the country, including Turner’s leadership on the $399 million Seattle-Tacoma Airport upgrade. In Pittsburgh, the modernization has come full circle on a project initiated in 2021 and previously announced as part of the region’s ambitious $1.4 billion airport redevelopment plan. 

With its opening, the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport is meant to serve as both a technological and cultural hallmark, a “front door to the city” that represents the pride of its locals, energy efficiency, and world-class collaboration in construction.