The Charlotte Douglas International Airport Terminal Lobby Expansion & Central Energy Plant

Project Statement

This 366,000 SF modernization and expansion in Charlotte, North Carolina, reshapes the airport’s primary public face while extending the life of a high demand facility. Airports often form a traveler’s first and last impression of a city, the CLT concept is grounded in Southern Hospitality, Charlotte Style, creating an experience that is welcoming, and intuitive. The program includes 175,000 SF expansion and 191,000 SF of renovation across key terminal functions including ticketing, the security approach, curbside arrival, and baggage claim. A new Central Energy Plant supports long-term performance and growth.

The design idea uses converging pathways and strategic floor openings to draw natural light deep into the terminal and create strong visual connections between levels. The environment is intentionally easy to understand, open sightlines, carefully choreographed volumes, and glass elevators help passengers know where they are and where they need to go. Floor patterning strengthens wayfinding, while selective moments of lower ceilings provide comfort and respite within larger public spaces.
Planning decisions were driven by more than 2,000 traveler responses, informing vertical and horizontal circulation and the placement of key decision points. The result is a calmer experience that reduces confusion and stress during peak conditions.

Outside the terminal, the curbside zone, made more complex by higher traffic volumes and increased rideshare activity, was redesigned to be safer and more predictable. Separated pedestrian routes, including new pedestrian bridges and underground passages, remove foot traffic from vehicle paths, reduce congestion, and improve continuity from curb to check in and beyond. Together, these improvements support smoother movement across the broader campus, helping travelers stay focused on their journey.

Sustainability and resilience were integrated with an emphasis on constructability within an active airport. The new Central Energy Plant consolidates chillers and boilers for improved efficiency and is sized to double chilled water capacity within the existing footprint, enabling future expansion with minimal disruption. A north curtain wall delivers daylight to approximately 50 percent of occupied spaces, while a Building Automation System optimizes energy use and thermal comfort. Regenerative braking on escalators and elevators reduces energy demand, and a light gray PVC roof membrane with an SRI of 85 limits heat gain. As of September 2025, the project achieved Two Green Globes Certification, diverted more than 75 percent of construction waste, and met Low Emitting Materials criteria across multiple categories. Durable, high-performance finishes were selected to withstand heavy traffic and reduce maintenance over time.

Design for Integration

An airport shapes travelers' first and last impressions, reflecting a city's identity and driving growth. The new terminal concept features converging pathways and floor openings to create a grand arrival with natural light. Inspired by “Southern Hospitality – Charlotte Style,” the design embraces Charlotte's history while integrating modern ideas to enhance comfort, convenience, and charm, influencing every design aspect from space scale to materials and amenities.

Design for Equitable Communities

Passenger feedback from 2,000 travelers shaped the design, focusing on intuitive vertical and horizontal circulation. Features like guiding floor patterns, glass elevators, and open spaces improve wayfinding and comfort, while lower ceilings in select areas create a calming atmosphere. To enhance safety and reduce congestion amid increased curbside activity, pedestrian bridges and underground passages separate foot traffic from vehicles, ensuring smooth connections throughout. These strategies reduce travel stress, allowing passengers to better enjoy their journeys.


Design for Ecosystems

An airport campus is strict in terms of habitats, as wildlife presence can have negative impacts on aircraft and operations. The canopy provides shade to curbside operations, and the new PVC roof membrane specified in light gray with an SRI of 85.


Design for Water

The project leverages a nearby natural water body as a retention pond to manage stormwater runoff, reducing strain on municipal drainage and preventing erosion and pollution. Additionally, irrigation uses drought-tolerant plants, grouping by water needs, minimal turf grass, and sustainable water management practices to lower consumption and environmental impact.


Design for Economy

The Terminal Lobby Expansion significantly enhances the existing lobby with 175,000 square feet of new space and renovates 191,000 square feet. Originally designed for 2.8 million passengers annually, the terminal now serves over 12.5 million originating and 33 million connecting passengers. This expansion and the use of durable materials throughout addresses the increased traffic and improves facilities for CLT’s growing passenger volume.


Design for Energy

While airport renovations have limits to maintain operations, this project improves campus performance with a Central Energy Plant consolidating chillers and boilers efficiently. Features include a northern curtain wall providing natural daylight in 50% of spaces, a Building Automation System for optimized energy and comfort, regenerative braking on escalators and elevators, and CEP capacity to double chilled water output for future growth. These are a few of the ways the airport is more resilient than ever and ready for the future, which contributed to the project earning Two Green Globes Certification in 2025.


Design for Wellbeing

The design of the new terminal interior prioritizes unobstructed views for users, allowing them to quickly locate their destinations and assess passenger volumes and estimated wait times. These design strategies not only facilitate smooth navigation but also contribute to reducing travel stress. By minimizing complications and providing clear information, passengers can spend more time enjoying their trip rather than worrying about logistical issues.


Design for Resources

As of September 2025, the project has achieved Two Green Globes Certification. It successfully diverted over 75% of its waste throughout the project and meets Low Emitting Materials criteria across multiple categories. Durable, resilient materials were selected to withstand high traffic, reducing maintenance and ensuring long-term performance.


Design for Change

Designed for future expansion, the project preserves footing rights-of-way and includes a Central Energy Plant sized to double chilled water capacity within the current footprint. The floor plans are laid out in such a way to be able to expand while still preserving the language of the building; this was achieved with adaptable checkpoints, and ticket lobby and bag claim areas sized for growth. Key rooms flank the plan, allowing central spaces like offices to be easily re-purposed as needs evolve.


Design for Discovery

The design team engaged airport leadership and stakeholders to boost customer satisfaction, inspire employees, and drive financial success. Collaboration reduced construction phases from 22 to 6, cutting over a year from the schedule and lowering costs—a process now guiding other renovations. Upon completion, a post-occupancy evaluation and system commissioning after one year will assess aesthetics, comfort, functionality, and performance to ensure design effectiveness.