The $1 billion terminal of the Sacramento International Airport is scheduled to open on Thursday. The new terminal will replace the airport’s original four-decade-old structure. Apart from the fact that it sits between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Sacramento airport also acts as a gateway to Sierra skiing and Northern California wine country. A relief to travelers, the new terminal will feature next-generation walk-through scanners presenting a chalk-outline view of travelers instead of the actual body contours. But what will set the terminal apart from the rest of the airports in the country are the $6 million distinctive artworks used to direct passengers and are sure to leave a lasting impression.
The centerpiece is a suspended-in-air, 56-foot-long aluminum red hare leaping into a suitcase that dominates the glass-and-steel entryway. This is, of course, where you will retrieve your bags from. Luminescent flocks of sandhill cranes indicate exist, while 30-foot chandelier in the shape of three intertwining Valley Oak trees dominates the concourse area. Apart from these, the terminal features shops, local restaurants, and padded seats with built-in electric outlets for passengers to plug in their gadgets. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the automated people mover is scheduled to be held at 4 a.m. on Thursday, with the first three flights scheduled to depart at 6 a.m.
On another note, the terminal, initially a $1.3 billion project, shrank to $1 billion after officials delayed the construction of a hotel and parking garage. Instead, the terminal is built with walls designed to be expanded as the airport grows. The cost for the new terminal will be paid by the airlines and passengers over time.
[BusinessInsider]
