Fentress Architects have revealed the design considerations behind Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport’s new $40 million passenger terminal.

Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington, welcomed the launch of commercial flights in March this year with the new Paine Field Passenger Terminal, aiming to offer travellers from Seattle and Northwest Washington with a time-saving choice for flights throughout the western US.

Fentress Architects, the design firm behind the base building, and Clive Lonstein, behind the architectural and interior design have revealed the design elements behind the new modern terminal “that emulates an exclusive airport lounge where all passengers are welcome.”

The two-gate 30,000 square-foot terminal is a public-private partnership between Propeller Airports and Snohomish County and has been designed to create a warm and relaxing environment for passengers with high-quality finishes, comfortable lounge areas and intuitive wayfinding to reduce stress.

Paine Field Passenger Terminal check in

“The team placed the passenger at the heart of its design approach by focusing on convenience and ease of use, in an environment that offers refined style and understated elegance,” Fentress Architects wrote in a statement. “The result is a terminal that creates a pleasant, world-class travel experience with a goal of getting passengers from curb to gate in ten minutes or less.”

Passengers are greeted by concierge desk staff in a check-in lobby “reminiscent of an upscale hotel lobby” featuring a polished concrete floor, walnut ticket counters with co-ordinating onyx countertops, custom 15’ Parsons’ style walnut desk and Prouve desk chairs. The black walnut panelled ceiling, imported from Switzerland, has been treated acoustically, and the check-in also features a Bose sound system, check-in stands with Italian marble countertops, and a limestone-covered wall.

The main flight display board is programmed to resemble the classic Solari split-flap display.

Once past security, passengers enter the main terminal, which has been designed with the aim of resembling an airport club lounge. The space features two fireplaces in hand-carved limestone and comfortable seating with power outlets. Large windows with glass imported from Germany frame the views of the runway while glass-walled jet bridges also aim to make the boarding process more comfortable for passengers.
Paine Field Passenger Terminal terminal seating by the fireplace

A custom asymmetrical patterned plaid in-laid carpet covers antiqued black granite floors. The terminal has Prouve seating throughout and tables hand-crafted from an 18” long walnut slab cut into 9 individual consecutive tables. The centre of the hold room has four Gueridon Bas Prouve tables and a 22” x 4” custom blackened steel and cast glass central chandelier overhead.

Passengers benefit from Wi-Fi as well as multiple power options at each seat to lesson the stress of travel.

The Café Vita coffee shop offers refreshments pre-security, and post-security passengers can find Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Café and the Upper Class Bar which offers Pacific Northwest wines and cocktails.

The airport now serves nine domestic destinations with Alaska Airlines and United Airlines including flights to Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

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