San Francisco International Airport reopened the final section of the award-winning $2.5B Harvey Milk Terminal 1 in June 2024. The culmination of an 8-year, four phase project, Priority Architectural Graphics was pleased to partner with Hensel Phelps, Gensler and SFO on this historic and groundbreaking airport terminal transformation.
The 8-year long project, which was launched in 2016, includes 27 gates, a north and south check in lobbies, new automated security exit lanes, Bag Drop technology for easier bag checking and screening lanes, a connection to the International Terminal (within security) and connecting walkways that link all SFO terminals (post-security) among other distinctive features.
This new, award-winning homebase for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (and currently also JetBlue and Southwest Airlines) is a state-of-the-art “quiet terminal” in which the traveler experience is enhanced with the use of digital paging throughout common areas (vs audio announcements which continue while passengers are at their gates). Longer unloading areas at security checkpoints give passengers more time to retrieve their scanned items and enlarged, decorated in-transit common areas (square footage, ceiling heights) provide a more relaxing and spacious environment for travelers in route to their flights. Art installations include displays featuring Terminal namesake Harvey Milk, aviation artifacts from the SFO Museum, and tile mosaics by artist Emily Fromm celebrating San Francisco neighborhoods from Chinatown to Castro Street to The Mission.
Priority’s longstanding relationship with SFO and deep experience working with other aviation clients in the transportation industry including Oakland International Airport was a critical advantage in the success of this $10M project for the company.
In 2019, the team at Priority completed the renaming of the Edwin Lee Departures Hall in the International Terminal at SFO, the British Airways Lounge addition, and the renumbering of SFO gates across the two international terminals, boarding areas, parking garages, taxiways and Air Train platforms. In 2020 and 2021, Priority also assisted with code signage for the USO Lobby in Terminal One and the SFO restroom refresh in the International Terminal.
Similar to the launch of Terminal One, the gate renumbering project took place overnight between late evening and early morning in order to minimize airport operational impacts with passenger travel. In April of 2020, the first and second phases of the Terminal One relaunch was completed.
Shannon Gustine, Regional Vice President at Hensel Phelps Construction noted “Hensel Phelps is strongly committed to working with quality local businesses that can bring a depth of professional expertise, sector experience and a collaborative approach in addition to an understanding of the needs and requirements of the local authorities having jurisdiction – all critical components to a project’s success. Priority Architectural Graphics brought all of this to the fabrication and installation of signage for SFO’s Terminal One relaunch. We are grateful for the partnership with Priority Architectural Graphics and appreciate the level of professionalism and quality they brought to the project. It was a win-win for both companies, they successfully grew their portfolio of SFO projects, and we continued our longstanding relationship with a trusted trade partner.”
Malcolm Yeung, President of the San Francisco Airport Commission also commented:
“SFO proudly serves millions of travelers every year, but in addition, it is also an engine for our region’s economy. Partnering with local small businesses on our ongoing expansion and evolution as an organization is an important part of our way of supporting our Bay Area community. When you travel through SFO, you see diversity. You see it in our passengers, our workers, and our contractors. This is what makes our airport the strongest in the nation. The relaunch of Terminal One was an 8-year project which involved multiple phases and required critical collaboration between airport operations and our construction partners. We’re delighted to celebrate such a successful outcome for SFO.”
Juliana Choy Sommer, CEO, Priority Architectural Graphics emphasized the significance of the Terminal One project for the company. “Being a part of the Harvey Milk Terminal Project is a dream come true for our company. This project pushed our team members to work collaboratively with each other like no other project. Our production staff had to be in total sync with our installation team. Our studio project managers had to communicate with full transparency to avoid any communication delays. It was a wonderful challenge that our team was up for, and we are appreciative to SFO, Hensel Phelps, Gensler and the entire construction team for partnering with us in this exceptional endeavor. I cannot wait to see what awards this well-deserved airport/aviation sector project will win.”