October 25, 2018

Concourse D Annex now arriving

Photos provided by HOK [enlarge]

The two-story, 32,400-square-foot building has six gate waiting areas and concessions.

[enlarge]

The $38.4 million annex will serve passengers who have to board shuttles to get to their plane.

The Port of Seattle is set to open its $38.4 million Concourse D Annex at Sea-Tac Airport by the end of next week.

The annex will serve “hardstand” passengers, who have to board shuttles to get to their plane in lieu of a loading bridge.

Sea-Tac currently has an average of 14 hardstand operations a day due to high passenger volume and reduced gate availability due to construction projects.

During peak periods, all of Sea-Tac's “contact” gates — ones with the loading bridges — are in use.

The port says the new annex will use space at the airport more efficiently, reducing the amount of time passengers spend waiting for planes to arrive at a gate.

The two-story, 32,400-square-foot building has six gate waiting areas, concessions, charging stations, free Wi-Fi and restrooms.

Travelers will cross a bridge from Concourse D to reach the annex.

The HOK-designed space has a 7,400-square-foot mezzanine level, a curved roof with skylights and a gently sloped walkway to the ground level and departing gates. The architectural style is intended to complement the existing Gina Marie Lindsay Arrivals Hall and Concourse A.

Arriving passengers will get off a plane at a hardstand location, board a shuttle, and ride to a drop-off area connecting directly into the terminal, from which they can reach the baggage claim or a connecting flight.

The Walsh Group built the annex under a $24.2 million design-build contract. Construction began in September last year.

The port is testing the facility before opening it to the public. If it uncovers any major complications, the opening could be delayed.

“The goal is no later than the end of next week,” said spokesman Perry Cooper.

Other team members include Lund Opsahl, structural engineer; Osborn Consulting, civil engineer; Hart Crowser, geotechnical engineer; Casne Engineering, electrical engineer; and Notkin Mechanical Engineers.