Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2 - Page 397

SLC Projects · #**7921** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 6:38 AM**

Not sure how old this is. But here are some renderings of what SLC's airport could look like one day.

http://www.gpaarch.com/Projects/GPA-Arch...e-City-Airport-New-Terminal-Complex.html

StevenF · #**7922** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 6:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Not sure how old this is. But here are some renderings of what SLC's airport could look like one day.

http://www.gpaarch.com/Projects/GPA-Arch...e-City-Airport-New-Terminal-Complex.html

That's easily 15 years old. That design kept getting set back and then after Sept. 11th 2001 they scrapped it since passenger numbers declined and the design was no longer up to date. I also believe there was management changes around the same time and the new manager of the Salt Lake City Airport didn't think some of the embellishments were needed so he took it back to the drawing board. At this point I am guessing they are just waiting for the passenger numbers to go back up before a new airport is phased in.

It would be nice to see some stats on passengers over the past 20 years to see if we are anywhere near like it was back in the 90's.

scottharding · #**7923** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 5:17 PM**

So the Sugarhouse Streetcar is a go. You were right, SP Hansen that is funded. It's just UTA who's paying the difference, not Salt Lake. So there's one thing on the list that will get done, making room for another perhaps. I for one, hope it's the Convention Center hotel that we see become a reality in the near future.

s.p.hansen · #**7924** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

So the Sugarhouse Streetcar is a go. You were right, SP Hansen that is funded. It's just UTA who's paying the difference, not Salt Lake. So there's one thing on the list that will get done, making room for another perhaps. I for one, hope it's the Convention Center hotel that we see become a reality in the near future.

Yeah, this is great! Maybe UTA has the money to do it because so much of their construction has come into fruition early and under budget.

skyguy414 · #**7925** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Not sure how old this is. But here are some renderings of what SLC's airport could look like one day.

http://www.gpaarch.com/Projects/GPA-Arch...e-City-Airport-New-Terminal-Complex.html

Yeah, these are old renderings. They are from the master plan in the mid-90s. Much of the current de-development plan is similar. I have seen the latest renderings and they are very impressive and beatiful. I wish I could post them.

Here are some more of this set of the previous master plan:

Courtesy of Dirk Friedson

As for a timeline, right now an Environmental assessment is being completed and will be done next April. The terminals will be built in phases over a decade or more. We'll see a new parking garage and rental car facility first followed by the main terminal and half of one concourse then as other current concourses are torn down, they will be built on top of.

Wish I could give a better time frame. But it will be years before we see it completely redeveloped. Price tag is well over $2 billion. And making sure the airlines are on board and willing to pay higher fees to the airport in order to build it is absolutely necessary. Delta is a big influence in the plans and they are on board.

It will happen, its just going to take time.

Orlando · #**7926** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 7:42 PM**

Thanks for posting these renderings and the link. I've been searching for that for years. Is there any word on when any of it will be built?

SLCdude · #**7927** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 7:50 PM**

I've seen renderings, but not these ones. Thanks!

I'm wondering what they would do about the Airport TRAX line. The terminal station is being built on the far eastern side of the airport, and it looks like the new airport would be built farther West. I'm assuming the straight line that leads directly to the center of the terminal in the renderings is light rail. UTA would have to scrap the existing rails and build new ones that lead directly to the terminal.

SLC Projects · #**7928** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 8:09 PM**

Thanks skyguy for those renderings and link. Since I also work up at the airport I been hearing alot of rumors about the airport project. Alot of these rumors have been on going for years and years. Rumors such as "the airport expansion will begin in about two years and we will be in a new building." Well that was 8 years ago.

Now the latest I'm hearing is about 10-15 years from now we will be in a new building. Right now there looks to be alot of heavy work going on the West runway area. Not too sure what's all going on over there, but my guess is that it has something to do with the runway. Also I'm hearing rumors that ground has been broken on the south field for the new Car Rental lots. ( not sure if that's true or not. ) For years that area has been used for car rental overflow.

skyguy414 · #**7929** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Thanks skyguy for those renderings and link. Since I also work up at the airport I been hearing alot of rumors about the airport project. Alot of these rumors have been on going for years and years. Rumors such as "the airport expansion will begin in about two years and we will be in a new building." Well that was 8 years ago.

Now the latest I'm hearing is about 10-15 years from now we will be in a new building. Right now there looks to be alot of heavy work going on the West runway area. Not too sure what's all going on over there, but my guess is that it has something to do with the runway. Also I'm hearing rumors that ground has been broken on the south field for the new Car Rental lots. ( not sure if that's true or not. ) For years that area has been used for car rental overflow.

That's cool, I didn't realize you worked there too. We've probably seen each other several times and not known it. I work at airport operations (city job).

The project on the west runway is for construction of new de-ice pads so planes can de-ice right before takeoff instead of right after push back. This will save the airlines money by reducing the chance of having to de-ice more than one time because of longer than anticipated taxi times, etc. The airport is also finishing up a number of deice pads near the center runway this year and it should be operational for this winter. The airport is also constructing glycol (the main ingredient in de-ice fluid) reclamation tanks to save even more money so it can be-reused instead of wasted. Glycol is like $8-10 per gallon so you can see how expensive it can get to de-ice planes.

I know there has been talk for years about the redevelopment of the airport terminals, but a lot of things have come up over the last 15 years from 9/11 to airline bankrupcies to economic downturns, etc.

I agree a new terminal is long overdue, and the city is well aware of it. But they have to be delicate how they go about doing this. They can't alienate the tenants. Other airports have gone ahead with new expensive new terminals without airlines on board. These cities have lost a lot of service because of it and the airports are left with lots of debt.

From what I understand, Delta has given the airport its blessing for a new terminal as well as some upgrades to some of the current concourses which will eventually be torn down.

The SLC airport is in a good financial situation (among the best in the country) and is closely working with airlines to make sure any impact on them won't result in cutting service. SLC is already one of the cheapest major airports to do business at and airlines want to keep it that way. From what I understand, Delta has given the airport its blessing for a new terminal as well as some upgrades to some of the current concourses which will eventually be torn down. Its a long process but it will be worth it. In a way it is a good thing it is taking long, because the regulations for airport construction have changed this last decade and now the airport will be able to build the airport with these impacts in mind instead of having to patch up or band-aid it like most airports have done which usually detracts from its aesthetic appeal.

We will get our new terminal, but its going to be done in phases and we will continue to be making upgrades to the current terminal and concourses in the meantime. I would say we won't see the large brand new terminal complete for at least 5-8 years. Once finished, the basic layout will be similar to the depictions above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLCdude

I've seen renderings, but not these ones. Thanks!

I'm wondering what they would do about the Airport TRAX line. The terminal station is being built on the far eastern side of the airport, and it looks like the new airport would be built farther West. I'm assuming the straight line that leads directly to the center of the terminal in the renderings is light rail. UTA would have to scrap the existing rails and build new ones that lead directly to the terminal.

Once the new parking structure is built, there will be a new Trax station built in it. It will be an elevated station so it will be the same floor as the departure level (second floor).

scottharding · #**7930** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 10:03 PM**

Great info, Skyguy.

My brother-in-law recently graduated with a degree in Airport operations from Purdue. Any chance there's a job opening there at the airport? I'd love to persuade my sister to move back here...

SLCdude · #**7931** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 11:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyguy414

Once the new parking structure is built, there will be a new Trax station built in it. It will be an elevated station so it will be the same floor as the departure level (second floor).

That sounds great!

I know Denver is also planning a station that stops at the center of their terminal. I believe it will be commuter rail rather than light rail though. It has an interesting design:

Old&New · #**7932** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 11:52 PM**

I'd imagine the trip from SLC international to downtown on light-rail will be faster than the trip from Den international to downtown on commuter rail... anyone know?

CountyLemonade · #**7933** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyguy414

Once the new parking structure is built, there will be a new Trax station built in it. It will be an elevated station so it will be the same floor as the departure level (second floor).

If so, then it's pretty wasteful for the UTA to be building a "welcome center" at the end of the line right by Terminal 1. I hope something is done for that building to perhaps be reused; in any event, that very European-looking train station looks stellar! I especially love those old San Francisco-style trams in the renderings.

arkhitektor · #**7934** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 1:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountyLemonade

If so, then it's pretty wasteful for the UTA to be building a "welcome center" at the end of the line right by Terminal 1. I hope something is done for that building to perhaps be reused; in any event, that very European-looking train station looks stellar! I especially love those old San Francisco-style trams in the renderings.

They are also currently upgrading the terminals and concourses with new shops and restaurants, so I'm not crossing my fingers for a new terminal anytime soon.

StevenF · #**7935** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 1:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

They are also currently upgrading the terminals and concourses with new shops and restaurants, so I'm not crossing my fingers for a new terminal anytime soon.

Those are updates to help keep the airport competitive while we wait for a full reconstruction. To most, the idea of doing updates on a building that will be torn down over a 10 year period seems wasteful. I think its good since it keeps the airport nice for the time being so it looks like a grate destination. We need to remember that the airport is the first thing people see of Salt Lake or Utah and needs to be kept up to date.

skyguy414 · #**7936** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 1:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountyLemonade

If so, then it's pretty wasteful for the UTA to be building a "welcome center" at the end of the line right by Terminal 1. I hope something is done for that building to perhaps be reused; in any event, that very European-looking train station looks stellar! I especially love those old San Francisco-style trams in the renderings.

It was always anticipated the station/welcome center would have a relatively short life span. The master plan has always called for the new parking structure adjacent to the new terminal to be the eventual permanent station.

It will still get several years of use before the new station is built.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

Great info, Skyguy.

My brother-in-law recently graduated with a degree in Airport operations from Purdue. Any chance there's a job opening there at the airport? I'd love to persuade my sister to move back here...

No openings in the forseeable future, sorry. The city's website will post any jobs that come up though.

Lilljemalm · #**7937** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 5:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old&New

I'd imagine the trip from SLC international to downtown on light-rail will be faster than the trip from Den international to downtown on commuter rail... anyone know?

Until recently, I was a long time Denver area resident. The joke about the airport is, "Nice airport. To bad it's in a different state." DIA is not very convenient to the rest of the metro area. It's "way out" east, so much so that it's easy to guarantee that SLC's light rail ride from the airport to downtown will be much faster than Denver's train ride from DIA to downtown. The current plan is for commuter rail on that line, but it is a bit down the list of lines to be built. The light rail line to Golden is next, followed by a commuter line to Boulder. They keep getting delayed, however, by cost overruns (land prices shot up when the lines were announced) and NIMBY's.

As a side note, I pass through SLC's airport frequently. I agree with it needing to be replaced. I always feel cramped and crowded in it, although I find it easy to meet my connections there. Only two other airports give me the same cramped feeling - LaGuardia and Reagan National.

delts145 · #**7938** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 5:51 AM**

So Skyguy, one of my favorite aspects of these previous renderings is the flying buttress ceiling and column designs. Will this be incorporated in to the new design specs?

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyguy414

Yeah, these are old renderings. They are from the master plan in the mid-90s. Much of the current de-development plan is similar. I have seen the latest renderings and they are very impressive and beautiful. I wish I could post them.

Here are some more of this set of the previous master plan:

Courtesy of Dirk Friedson

skyguy414 · #**7939** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by delts145

So Skyguy, one of my favorite aspects of these previous renderings is the flying buttress ceiling and column designs. Will this be incorporated in to the new design specs?

The latest renderings I have seen aren't detailed enough. It is more of a "rough draft" if you will with a full layout. But it is detailed enough to show lots of windows, lots of openness, lots of space. You get the idea. It is very modern and efficient.

They are in the process of working with a firm to come up with the exact schematics and design renderings this/next year.

SLC Projects · #**7940** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 6:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyguy414

The latest renderings I have seen aren't detailed enough. It is more of a "rough draft" if you will with a full layout. But it is detailed enough to show lots of windows, lots of openness, lots of space. You get the idea. It is very modern and efficient.

They are in the process of working with a firm to come up with the exact schematics and design renderings this/next year.

You think maybe we might see some of these renderings......next April?