Final Concourse for Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Adds 8 New Gates

Construction is complete on the eighth and final concourse in Arizona’s Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which includes the addition of eight new gates serving Southwest Airlines’ passengers. McCarthy Building Companies served as the general contractor.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4 is the busiest terminal at the airport and handles more than 80% of passenger traffic annually. The airport served nearly 39 million passengers in 2021 and, during peak periods, existing gates at Terminal 4 often reached full capacity. The addition of eight new gates brings Terminal 4 total to 92 gates. The new concourse, designed by SmithGroup in partnership with Corgan, is located at the southwest corner of the terminal adjacent to the low D concourse.

The total project added or renovated approximately 275,000 square feet of space, with the addition of 161,500 square feet representing the eighth and final concourse and connector bridge at Terminal 4. Included are approximately 137,000 square feet of concourse configured with apron and passenger levels; within the concourse space, approximately 25,000 square feet of shell spaces for retail and food and beverage concessions; a new 24,000-square-foot transfer bridge now connects the South concourses to the North concourses on the west side to Terminal 4.

The project also included terminal processor improvements, expansion of the existing security checkpoint D, additional ticket counters and a new baggage handling system to support the new gates and associated travelers. Approximately 113,000 square feet of space was also remodeled with the project.

The project is pursuing LEED Silver certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. Approximately 14,000 square feet of electrochromic glazing, a glazing system connected to low-voltage wiring and control systems, tints the windows based on the exterior temperature and angle of the sun. The technology makes for a more comfortable passenger and employee experience at the concourse, and it is a first for Sky Harbor. Project planners implemented other environmental savings by reusing materials from old building foundations and slabs from the 1960s. The concrete was crushed and used onsite for backfill, preventing the need for additional material import and the reinforcing steel was all recycled.

The project design reinforces connections to place through moments of engagement with the landscape, sky, city and the PHX Sky Train.

Facility construction began in May 2019 and major construction milestones were achieved during the pandemic when passenger levels dipped. The first flights out of the new concourse are scheduled for later this summer.

In addition to expanding the airport’s busiest terminal while it was in operation, the project’s noteworthy factors include:

• 1.5 miles of baggage handling system conveyor belts installed along with 1,400 linear feet of jet fuel pipeline
• Construction of four tunnels and two bridges; by building tunnel structures for baggage transfers, the team was able to remove the need for a costly additional basement structure
• 49.6 million pounds of concrete; 1.9 million pounds of rebar; 92,000 square feet of exterior metal panel and 56,000 square feet of terrazzo flooring

Major subcontractors on the project included G&S Airport Conveyors, DP Electric, Karber Corp., GrayWolf, Kovach, Rhino and E&K. Both Karber Corp. and Rhino are designated City of Phoenix Small Business Enterprises.