Designed by Gensler, The 12th-busiest airport in the United States, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) serves as a global gateway to Metro Detroit. Opened as a model of post 9/11 terminal design, the airport?s new North Terminal is enhancing DTW?s status as one of the most modern and efficient airports in the world. Gensler designed the terminal to meet the dynamic needs of today?s travelers. The 26-gate, 824,000-square-foot terminal met stringent budget requirements and establishes new benchmarks for value-conscious airport facilities. A tremendous time saver for travelers, the terminal?s linear design will also create a faster, more efficient path for taxiing aircraft that will save fuel and reduce environmental emissions. More images and information about DTW’s North Terminal after the break.
The highlight of the terminal?s design is a 660-foot-long glass box that forms a gateway foyer. Set over the curb, this glass box is the one space through which every passenger passes. It ushers natural light into the check-in, baggage claim, and security screening areas. Exposed structural steel, vivid color, abundant natural light, and modern building components recall the confident manner in which this region has always addressed its challenges, offering innovation, utility, and ambition to the rest of the world.

The new North Terminal is an origin and destinations terminal, as opposed to a connecting hub through which passengers travel without emerging. Most...