Des Moines International Airport, New Terminal

To help meet the growing demands of the Des Moines International Airport (DSM), a new terminal is set to expand air service and accommodate 4 million annual travelers.

HNTB serves as architect- and structural engineer-of-record on the airport’s 22-gate expansion project. In this role, the firm is leading planning, architecture, engineering and design.

Improving the Passenger Journey

To ease the passenger experience and enhance airport operations, not only will the existing terminal and concourse remain 100% operational during construction, but new features will make the passenger journey more efficient than ever before.

One of these features include expanded central security screening checkpoints. With eight total screening lanes, passengers will be able to move through security more quickly.

Upgraded technology and infrastructure also simplify the passenger journey. This includes illuminated gatehouses that will signal when it’s time for boarding. Visible from several hundred feet away, this feature will allow passengers to spend their spare time more comfortably between arrival and boarding.

Elevating Experience

Feeling more secure with their extra time thanks to the new gate technology, travelers can explore the elevated dining and retail options or relax in the open, inviting and intuitive spaces that serve as the cornerstone of the new terminal’s design.

Some of these spaces include a central community area, which allows those who are welcoming a companion home—or waving them goodbye—a clear view of the entire concourse. Similarly, drivers who approach the terminal will be able to peer through the front lobby through the transparent, front façade.

Creating Economic Opportunity

Plans for the new terminal also include five new aircraft gates and added parking positions to provide further opportunity for DSM’s air service growth. In turn, these additions are intended to fuel economies across the region and state.

Soon, the transformational new terminal project will support DSM’s airport operations, passengers and countless surrounding economies for years to come.