From floors to ceilings, to screens and signs, Terminal 1 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is getting a major facelift.
Work on the $242 million Airport Modernization Program has already started on Concourse F at MSP. It's the largest interior renovation at Terminal 1 since 1962.
"Our goal is to provide the best possible passenger experience that we can," says Brian Ryks who is CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
Six of the seven concourses and 75 gate areas at Terminal 1 will see changes during the makeover that's expected to be done the end of 2025. The full renovation will be split over three phases, with phase one already beginning in Concourses D and F. Concourse C will begin to see construction in February.
Combined, the renovation will cover 378,000 square feet. Bridget Rief with MAC says a lot of the work will take place overnight in order to minimize the impact on travelers.
"As we take out ceilings, redo carpet, as we walk down concourses when the Terrazzo work starts, walls will be put up so that folks will be able to see it in action, and see it all unfold over the next three year," says Rief.
The $242 million dollar price tag will be funded primarily by the Metropolitan Airports Commission who will pay $182.5 million towards the renovation. Delta Airlines, the primary carrier at MSP, will also contribute $60 million. Delta serves seven out out of every ten passengers flying out of MSP.
"As you come down the concourse or as you leave, you can see the carpet looks a little worn," says Ryks. "We go through carpet very quickly in these facilities. So one of the goals is to enhance that with Terrazzo wherever possible. It makes it easier to pull luggage bags through the facilities."
By the time these renovations are complete, the MAC says that more than $1 billion will have been invested in Terminal 1 over the last decade.
MSP Airport is the 18th busiest airport in North America and also one of the most highly-ranked airports in the world by travelers.
Some of the improvements include:
More accessible and durable Terrazzo flooring to replace carpeting.
New wall finishes in public areas.
Brighter and more modern LED lighting.
New ceilings and structural columns.
Technology upgrades including dynamic flight information screens.
Full refresh of Delta gate hold rooms.
New seating with power outlets.