When Washington National Airport on July 27 formally opens the doors to its new terminal, travelers will step across 50 years of history that separate the modern building from its World War II era ancestor. The old and new terminals, located side by side with a connector concourse that will house Continental Airlines, will be the centerpiece of an airport that has been transformed from a crowded, outdated facility into an airport designed for the needs of the traveling public well into the next century. While the airport remains restricted in area due to its downtown location, it has been rebuilt to maximize the available land and to offer the latest and most convenient transportation links to the region. The terminal's major architectural feature is a series of 54 domes, each 65 feet from the floor, and each topped with a round skylight with a diameter of 16 feet. The lofty arched steel structures are painted a light yellow, a color scheme that is continued throughout the building and is intended to add to the sensation of light and space.
Security screening is located at the entry to each pier.
Host Marriott Services Corporation holds the master lease for all 23 food and beverage locations in the terminal, while Westfield Corporation Inc. was awarded leasing rights for all specialty retail spaces, which will include 39 stores and up to 30 retail carts. Passengers will be offered a selection of national, regional and local brands. Vaccaro points out that the terminal was designed with the commuter in mind, since it is joined to the city's subway system, providing easy, sheltered access from the aircraft to the city's interior. Two climate-controlled bridges with moving sidewalks in both directions will connect the subway, known as Metrorail, to the terminal and the new parking garage. Two ground transportation centers, located on the lower level baggage claim area, also will sell Metro farecards.