Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) recently unveiled its $399 million, 145,000-square-foot Concourse C expansion, and I had the opportunity to explore the space. I think passengers will be impressed and AvGeeks will love a new feature too!
The overall space is quite eye-catching. If you are familiar with Concourse C before, you know that it is narrow and difficult to get through. As passenger numbers increase, airports are always looking for creative new ways to expand, but this has been a challenge.
“We can't get out, so we have to go up,” said Wendy Reiter, managing director of SEA Airports. “Using the same footprint and not losing any gates, we've created more comfort and practicality for passengers. They just go up.” The new space is four stories tall and offers multi-level amenities, art installations, sensory rooms, performance areas and abundant natural light.
The tree at C immediately caught my attention and gave me a Pacific Northwest feel. The airport says passengers “will feel the forest overhead in geometric patterns of western hemlock that flow down the centerpiece of the building.” I think it looks pretty rad!
bonus: Preview of Hall C under construction in December
Connected to the tree at C are grand staircases that serve several purposes: they help connect the first and second floors, they serve as additional seating, and they display tabletop art.
New dining and retail options have also been added: Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, Nanny's BBQ, Bite Society, Great State Burger, Olympia Coffee, Port of Subs, Seattle Macaron Co and Wanderlust.
I'd say the best part of the extension is the Lookout at C. On the top floor, you'll find an area where you can take photos and view airliners. The exterior walls are glass, but there are a few inches of space between each pane of glass, so it feels like you're indoors and outdoors at the same time. Because of the openings, you can easily hear and smell all the airport operations, which is a huge bonus. Cheers to airports for choosing to incorporate this feature into their plans!
If you fly through SEA (or use Southeast Asia Visitor Pass), it is worth your time to check out the improved C Concourse, especially the Lookout at C. If you’ve experienced it, let me know what you thought in the comments.
