Pittsburgh International Airport Debuts Spectcular Outdoor Terrace

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — The Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal is less than a year old, but airport officials continue to add amenities to it.

Airport, government and other officials on Wednesday unveiled the facility's pre-security UMPC Terrace, the first of three publicly accessible outdoor spaces that will be available to both passengers and visitors.

The 36,000 square-foot terrace features a walkway, seating and landscaping with a Western Pennsylvania accent. It can be accessed on the Arrivals Level at the Welcome Point near the VisitPittsburgh desk or between baggage carousels 5-8.

“We are one of the few airports in the United States that has access to the outdoors like this without the cost of entering; you don’t have to pay, you don’t have to be a member of a certain club,” Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said at a terrace ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to Blue Sky News, the airport's news website.

“The terraces are redefining what it means to be an airport. I think this will surprise a lot of people and people will say, 'Oh, I had no idea you could do this."

Airport officials said a small but growing number of U.S. airports also provide accessible outdoor spaces prior to security. These spaces are often designed as observation areas, public plazas, terraces or landside parks, but are not incorporated inside their terminals.

Several of these airports include:

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Founders’ Plaza is a 6-acre observation park that offers clear views of active runways.
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport Aircraft Viewing Area is located outside the terminal and offers close-up views of aircraft taxiing, taking off,and landing.
• Denver International Airport’s public plaza and outdoor spaces are the open-air areas surrounding the Jeppesen Terminal, particularly the plaza between the terminal and the Westin hotel and transit center.

For Pittsburgh, another pre-security terrace on the arrivals level, as well as the Green Spine in front of the parking garage - and two additional post-security terraces limited to ticketed passengers - are planned for the airport in the future.

The UPMC Terrace was made possible by UPMC and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.