Client

Norfolk Airport Authority

Location

Norfolk, VA

Expertise

Aviation

Services

Architecture, Interior Design

The busiest airport in one of the Eastern Seaboard’s most active transportation, shipping and military hubs, Norfolk International Airport (ORF) serves approximately 3 million passengers each year. Due to evolving security protocols and passenger growth, the existing checkpoints for concourses A and B were experiencing congestion and circulation issues that produced long lines at peak travel times. As part of a larger terminal modernization program, Norfolk Airport Authority chose Gresham Smith to design two all-new passenger screening security checkpoints, which would accommodate new screening equipment, accelerate passenger processing times, and augment airport safety and security.

passengers standing in line at security screening at Norfolk International Airport

The new, larger checkpoints feature clear-span designs that maximize the amount of usable area. The column-free spaces improve circulation, alleviate congestion and support long-term growth by creating room for future increases in screening capacity and throughput. Extending the finishes from other areas of the terminal, wood-clad beams, a travertine-stone feature wall and patterned terrazzo enhance the ambiance and blend the aesthetic from the atrium to the concourse. Full-height glass walls provide exterior views and bring abundant daylight into the checkpoints. Using occupancy sensors, time clocks and daylight sensors, the design helps reduce the use of artificial lighting when natural light is sufficient.