December 23, 2024

$400M concourse expansion tops out at Sea-Tac

Photo courtesy of Port of Seattle [enlarge]

This runway view shows the addition taking shape. Four floors are being added atop the existing concourse.

Team members and project stakeholders came together at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday to celebrate the topping out of the C Concourse Expansion Project.

The $399 million project will expand the existing concourse by some 146,000 square feet via the addition of four new floors above the current structure, at the point where the C and D concourses meet.

Those new floors will contain 13 new dining and retail spaces, a feature seating stair in a central gathering area, additional premier lounge space for Alaska Airlines, an airfield viewing platform, an interfaith prayer and meditation room, a nursing room, and other services and amenities.

Rendering by Woods Bagot [enlarge]

The expansion will add a host of new amenities in a distinctive biophilic space inspired by the region’s natural beauty.

The expansion, designed by Miller Hull Partnership and Woods Bagot, is inspired by the Pacific Northwest. Designed to be “an extension of the region,” interiors will invoke surrounding natural landscapes and feature lots of exposed wood. Natural materials grown and sourced in the region include a distinctive carved wooden ceiling and sculptural tree in the central gathering area.

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The final structural beam was placed Thursday for a four-story addition to the C Concourse.

Thursday's topping out ceremony included a signing ceremony, cake, and a visit from Jett the sea otter, the airport's new (and extremely cute) mascot. Turner Construction is the general contractor for the expansion. Apex Steel handled erection of the addition's structural steel frame, including the final beam.

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Attendees at the topping out ceremony included the airport’s new mascot, a sea otter named Jett.

Early work began on the project in summer 2022, with major construction kicking off in 2024. Substantial completion for construction is projected for the second quarter of 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Cup Tournament in Seattle.

In October, the port announced the 13 new dining and retail concepts selected to open in the addition. They include national chain restaurant Chili's, Stumptown Coffee, a local BBQ restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, and a new store for Seattle record label Sub Pop Records.

The C Concourse Expansion is part of the Upgrade SEA suite of capital projects initiated to improve the overall customer experience at the airport. Upgrade SEA will invest nearly $5 billion in projects over the next five years.