Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming by Gensler

Article source: Gensler

The Jackson Hole Airport, the only U.S. airport located inside a National Park, is the gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks. The project involved the renovation of an existing baggage-claim area, the expansion of the ticketing lobby and hold rooms, and the addition of a new baggage-screening building. The renovation and expansion nearly doubled the size of the airport to about 116,000 square feet.

Image Courtesy © Tim Griffith

• Architects: Gensler 
• Project: Jackson Hole Airport
• Location: Wyoming, U.S.A
• Photography: Tim Griffith, Matthew Millman
• Owner: Jackson Hole Airport
• Associate Architect: Carney Logan Burke Architects
• Baggage Systems: BNP Associates, Inc.
• Engineer Civil: Jacobs Carter Burgess
• Engineer Electrical and Mechanical: Swanson Rink
• Engineer Structural: Martin/Martin
• General Contractor: Wadman Corporation
• Landscape Design: Hershberger Design

Image Courtesy © Tim Griffith

To integrate the building into its awe-inspiring surroundings, the concept considered the building as a simple, understated foreground feature within the beautiful landscape. The design addressed an 18-foot height limitation, in place within the National Park since the mid-1900s, through a clear-span queen post truss system that reduced beam depths and increased the volume.

Image Courtesy © Matthew Millman

In contrast to the previous terminal, which had minimal connection to the views, a new glass curtain wall was created to establish a strong connection between the interior and the exterior and to flood the ticketing hall with natural daylight. From the exterior, increased transparency also helps orient travelers and provides a more comforting experience.

Image Courtesy © Matthew Millman

The airport is defined by its wood structure, which was inspired by the humble expression of structures found in barns and sheds throughout the region. Weathered steel and smooth ground-concrete floors provide contrast to the tactile qualities of the wood structure. Interior architecture and design, branding, and public art were used cohesively to create a lodge-like atmosphere in keeping with the region. While the forms and materials of mountain architecture informed the building’s vocabulary, the design lacks any hint of kitsch or historicism.

Image Courtesy © Matthew Millman

Image Courtesy © Matthew Millman

Image Courtesy © Tim Griffith

Tags: U.S.A., Wyoming

Category: Airport

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