DFW Airport Fantasy Redesign
Posted: 21 Feb 2024 15:16
Hello everyone!
Due to the nonsensical and shocking Terminal F plans, I decided to play around with ideas of how DFW could be redesigned and expanded in a way that modernizes and improves the layout while leaving room for future growth. The current growth plans achieve neither despite their astronomical cost.
Obviously, this would be a massive, expensive undertaking. However, I think it sets up DFW for much more future growth potential as well as a passenger experience worthy of the 2nd busiest airport in the world and our growing region.
This is also meant to be a multi-decade plan, and is designed as to allow for phased growth as needed (unlike the airport board's current plans).
Here is the google maps link to my crude 2 phase design study:
MAP LINK: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing
PHASE 1:
-Build new headhouse at South end of the property. This would require demolition of some old airport facility buildings which could be relocated elsewhere. At this point, check-in/security/baggage would be centralized here for all terminals, and exterior entrances to other terminals would be sealed.
-Build enormous parking facility attached to new headhouse, accessible by tram stop or by moving walkways towards headhouse.
-In this plan, existing remote parking lots would be phased out, and existing terminal adjacent parking garages would become new remote lots and employee lots until their adjacent terminals are demolished.
-New Terminal 1 in a spider shape that maximizes the amount of gates that can be fit in. The centerpoint would be a Skylink stop, surrounded by retail/dining, with moving sidewalks extending into each pier from the centerpoint. I figure each of these terminals could fit approximately 100 gates.
I imagine these to be kind of rounded and flowy in shape, not hard angled like in the google map. Think atrium, incorporating natural plants and trees as well.
-I imagine the center of each of the terminals to be something as stunning as the Jewel in the Singapore Airport. Soaring ceilings, natural light, plants/water, and of course tons of shopping and dining opening to the central atrium to increase airport revenue. Everyone would have to pass through these areas from the Skylink stop to the terminal piers.
-New Skyklink extension from existing lines into Terminal 1 and then into the headhouse. Completely within secured airside.
-New tram line from headhouse to parking to hotel development zone to rental car facility. This would be in the non-secure landside area only.
At the end of Phase 1, Terminal E could be demolished in preparation for the new Terminal 2. Terminal/Scam F would be rightfully cancelled and never built. Even with Terminal E demolished, this would be about a net gain of 65 gates.
PHASE 2:
-Build new Terminal 2 in the same design as new Terminal 1, adding about another 100 gates (net gain 165 gates at this point)
-Redesigned Terminal C would continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
-Terminal D would continue to operate for the foreseeable future. International passengers would continue to clear customs and collect baggage in Terminal D, and then take specialized secure nonstop trains to headhouse for exit or terminal re-entry. Utilizing same Skylink tracks.
-Connect Skylink as done in phase 1. Create a loop between Terminal D and C until future terminal on existing terminal A/B site is built.
At this point, Terminals A & B could be demolished, still leaving a net gain of about 95 gates from the start of the project. This does not include the additional gates being added at C in the current redesign project, so net gain would be 100+ gates.
The former Terminal A&B site could add a new international/domestic terminal (Terminal 4) when needed, and existing C&D could be demolished in the future when they are obsolete due to the added capacity at Terminal 4. Then, a new Terminal 3 could be built in the same manner as 1 and 2. If those 2 phases are completed, DFW could have about 400 gates compared to the current 174 gates. More than enough capacity to continue to fuel the area's economic growth.
Looking even further into the future, a new spider shaped terminal could be added in the area to the north of existing A/B where Express North parking and cargo facilities are. Another 100 gates could be accommodate there, if ever needed.
Other considerations would be connecting DART and TexRail, as well as sinking portions of International Parkway to accommodate new terminals overhead as well as mass transit lines.
Let me know what y'all think!!
Due to the nonsensical and shocking Terminal F plans, I decided to play around with ideas of how DFW could be redesigned and expanded in a way that modernizes and improves the layout while leaving room for future growth. The current growth plans achieve neither despite their astronomical cost.
Obviously, this would be a massive, expensive undertaking. However, I think it sets up DFW for much more future growth potential as well as a passenger experience worthy of the 2nd busiest airport in the world and our growing region.
This is also meant to be a multi-decade plan, and is designed as to allow for phased growth as needed (unlike the airport board's current plans).
Here is the google maps link to my crude 2 phase design study:
MAP LINK: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing
PHASE 1:
-Build new headhouse at South end of the property. This would require demolition of some old airport facility buildings which could be relocated elsewhere. At this point, check-in/security/baggage would be centralized here for all terminals, and exterior entrances to other terminals would be sealed.
-Build enormous parking facility attached to new headhouse, accessible by tram stop or by moving walkways towards headhouse.
-In this plan, existing remote parking lots would be phased out, and existing terminal adjacent parking garages would become new remote lots and employee lots until their adjacent terminals are demolished.
-New Terminal 1 in a spider shape that maximizes the amount of gates that can be fit in. The centerpoint would be a Skylink stop, surrounded by retail/dining, with moving sidewalks extending into each pier from the centerpoint. I figure each of these terminals could fit approximately 100 gates.
I imagine these to be kind of rounded and flowy in shape, not hard angled like in the google map. Think atrium, incorporating natural plants and trees as well.
-I imagine the center of each of the terminals to be something as stunning as the Jewel in the Singapore Airport. Soaring ceilings, natural light, plants/water, and of course tons of shopping and dining opening to the central atrium to increase airport revenue. Everyone would have to pass through these areas from the Skylink stop to the terminal piers.
-New Skyklink extension from existing lines into Terminal 1 and then into the headhouse. Completely within secured airside.
-New tram line from headhouse to parking to hotel development zone to rental car facility. This would be in the non-secure landside area only.
At the end of Phase 1, Terminal E could be demolished in preparation for the new Terminal 2. Terminal/Scam F would be rightfully cancelled and never built. Even with Terminal E demolished, this would be about a net gain of 65 gates.
PHASE 2:
-Build new Terminal 2 in the same design as new Terminal 1, adding about another 100 gates (net gain 165 gates at this point)
-Redesigned Terminal C would continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
-Terminal D would continue to operate for the foreseeable future. International passengers would continue to clear customs and collect baggage in Terminal D, and then take specialized secure nonstop trains to headhouse for exit or terminal re-entry. Utilizing same Skylink tracks.
-Connect Skylink as done in phase 1. Create a loop between Terminal D and C until future terminal on existing terminal A/B site is built.
At this point, Terminals A & B could be demolished, still leaving a net gain of about 95 gates from the start of the project. This does not include the additional gates being added at C in the current redesign project, so net gain would be 100+ gates.
The former Terminal A&B site could add a new international/domestic terminal (Terminal 4) when needed, and existing C&D could be demolished in the future when they are obsolete due to the added capacity at Terminal 4. Then, a new Terminal 3 could be built in the same manner as 1 and 2. If those 2 phases are completed, DFW could have about 400 gates compared to the current 174 gates. More than enough capacity to continue to fuel the area's economic growth.
Looking even further into the future, a new spider shaped terminal could be added in the area to the north of existing A/B where Express North parking and cargo facilities are. Another 100 gates could be accommodate there, if ever needed.
Other considerations would be connecting DART and TexRail, as well as sinking portions of International Parkway to accommodate new terminals overhead as well as mass transit lines.
Let me know what y'all think!!