Begun in 1936 as a Works Projects Administration effort, Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport originally was just a 2-runway airfield meant to spur development in the surrounding area. The plan was that someday, it would grow into a major travel destination.
But World War II brought greater needs, and from 1936 to 1946 the airfield, located about 20 miles north of Seattle, was an Army Air Corps installation. By 1948 the property was returned to local control, only to be taken over by the military again, from 1951 to 1962, when the US Air Force Aerospace Defense had an active unit there.
In 1966 the Air Force had mostly left, opening the spot to development. At that time The Boeing Company built an assembly plant on-site, realizing some of the hopes for development of local officials and business owners. That corporate move was followed over the years by many others; today, the airport is home to more than 50 businesses.
And now, with the Everett, WA, airport’s recent opening of a new $40 million passenger terminal, the transportation hub has truly arrived at the destination its planners once envisioned. The improvements showcase how far the airport has transformed itself since its humble beginnings. A longstanding destination for people from Seattle and northwestern Washington, Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport is a boutique airport, with all the services of such a spot.
See Also: The Ilan and Asaf Ramon International Airport opens in Israel’s Negev Desert
The opening in March of the airport’s new passenger terminal also means that now, daily commercial flights with more than one carrier are offered. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are offering a total of 24 daily flights to nine US locations including Los Angeles, Denver and Las Vegas.
The 2-gate, 30,000 SF terminal is the creation of Fentress Architects, which designed the base building, with architectural and interior designs done by Clive Lonstein, Inc. The terminal was completed through a public-private partnership between Snohomish County and Propeller Airports.
The feel of the new terminal is meant to be akin to an upscale hotel, its planners said. Comfortable seating areas, high quality furniture, and building materials including walnut ticket counters with onyx countertops, black walnut paneling and a Bose sound system.
The airport’s offerings also have changed, with some local businesses locating in the pre-security and post-security areas. Before passing through the Security checkpoint, travelers can stop for a moment at the Café Vita coffee shop; and post-security, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Café, a Seattle company, and the Upper Case Bar offer other refreshments.
Related Stories
| May 23, 2014
Top interior design trends: Gensler, HOK, FXFOWLE, Mancini Duffy weigh in
Tech-friendly furniture, “live walls,” sit-stand desks, and circadian lighting are among the emerging trends identified by leading interior designers.
| May 20, 2014
Kinetic Architecture: New book explores innovations in active façades
The book, co-authored by Arup's Russell Fortmeyer, illustrates the various ways architects, consultants, and engineers approach energy and comfort by manipulating air, water, and light through the layers of passive and active building envelope systems.
| May 19, 2014
What can architects learn from nature’s 3.8 billion years of experience?
In a new report, HOK and Biomimicry 3.8 partnered to study how lessons from the temperate broadleaf forest biome, which houses many of the world’s largest population centers, can inform the design of the built environment.
| May 13, 2014
19 industry groups team to promote resilient planning and building materials
The industry associations, with more than 700,000 members generating almost $1 trillion in GDP, have issued a joint statement on resilience, pushing design and building solutions for disaster mitigation.
| May 11, 2014
Final call for entries: 2014 Giants 300 survey
BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 survey forms are due Wednesday, May 21. Survey results will be published in our July 2014 issue. The annual Giants 300 Report ranks the top AEC firms in commercial construction, by revenue.
| Apr 29, 2014
USGBC launches real-time green building data dashboard
The online data visualization resource highlights green building data for each state and Washington, D.C.
| Apr 22, 2014
Bright and bustling: Grimshaw reveals plans for the Istanbul Grand Airport [slideshow]
In partnership with the Nordic Office of Architecture and Haptic Architects, Grimshaw Architects has revealed its plans for the terminal of what will be one of the world's busiest airports. The terminal is expected to serve 150 million passengers per year.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.
| Apr 4, 2014
$25 million Orion Jet Center designed by SchenkelShultz now open
As the centerpiece of the 45-acre campus, which is its first phase of a planned 215-acre mixed-use development, the 18,000 square foot executive terminal facility offers spacious passenger areas, administrative space, an executive suite, rental car kiosk, catering and a cafe.
| Apr 2, 2014
8 tips for avoiding thermal bridges in window applications
Aligning thermal breaks and applying air barriers are among the top design and installation tricks recommended by building enclosure experts.
