SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1

Aiming to be a global leader in sustainability in all its operations, SFO engaged the Gensler & Kuth Ranieri Joint Venture – with collaborators including Woods Bagot, HKS, ED2, KYA, and Hamilton + Aitken – to modernize and expand one of its largest projects to date: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 (HMT1). Redefining what it means to travel well and climate smart, HMT1 is SFO's new benchmark and a model for international airport design. Shaped by its region of naturalism, HMT1 immerses travelers in the Bay Area story. A suspended light sculpture in the Arrivals Hall depicts the area's signature wind and fog, and the color scheme of grand stairs to baggage claim evokes Northern California’s diverse environs. A designated quiet terminal, HMT1 uses digital displays instead of overhead announcements and features special signage and assistance for the visually impaired. A sensory room includes quiet and interactive experiences for neurodiverse travelers, and the nation’s first all-gender bathroom at an airport is the result of engagement with the LGBTQ+ community throughout the design process. To advance SFO’s Triple Zero aspirations (zero carbon, zero energy, and zero waste), designers established a universal energy efficiency model informed by ten key strategies, supporting a 79% reduction to total carbon emissions (operating and embodied), 60% reduction in energy use intensity, 50% reduction in potable water use, and LEED Platinum certification. The first ever 2-star Fitwel-certified airport terminal, HMT1 is also the world’s first airport terminal to receive the Best in Building Health Award from the Center of Active Design. Dynamic glazing reacts to sun conditions, reducing the solar load and maximizing visual comfort. Materials were measured by their global warming potential to lower the project’s embodied carbon from baseline standards by 20%. Should HMT1 achieve Fitwel 3-star, it would be the first U.S. airport terminal to reach the certification and LEED Platinum.