Location: Jackson Hole, WY
Size: 58,800 sq. ft.
Category: Public or Civic
Expanding outward from the initial concourse renovation, the architect’s most recent work for the Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) includes a new restaurant/bar, an expanded holding area, two additional gates, a gift shop and an updated baggage claim area with a snack bar/retail. Following the earlier phase in which the 70s-era post and beam timber structure was demolished and re-envisioned to facilitate the flow of 21st-century travelers, the renewed spaces and addition complete the terminal redesign. This represents the eighth project that the architect has completed for the JAC, with two additional projects underway, including a new private air terminal and three hangar structures.
As the only U.S. airport situated within a National Park, the structure was designed as an extension of its natural environment. Design decisions facilitate an easy and stress-free travel experience, with open floor plans and clear-sight corridors, as well as abundant glazing that frames the airplane runways and Teton Mountain range beyond — orienting travelers within the travel process and to their place within the dramatic Wyoming landscape.
Maximizing the developable height and area limits imposed by the National Park, the design choreographs an open-ended, flexible space that offers the complex programming space to breathe and flow. Structural supports are given a minimal presence, with long-spanning Douglas fir glulam beams, rough-hewn log columns and lightweight steel. A monumental fireplace anchors the far end of the room, complementing the commissioned artwork and drawing visitors into an airy, welcoming and highly functional “living room.” A convenient grab-and-go counter and relaxed dining area served by a full commercial kitchen are mirrored on the west by floor-to-ceiling views of the Teton Range. Polished concrete benches with leather seats line the glass walls and invite visitors to take in unobstructed views of their unique surroundings. Underground, over 3,000 square feet of versatile flex space anticipates the future growth of the airport, awaiting whatever function they may need to facilitate.
Accommodating 400,000+ travelers annually, the materials are as rugged and long-wearing as the surrounding mountain slopes. Polished concrete floors lay a utilitarian foundation for the public’s heavy traffic. Warm and tactile timber elements pay homage to the vernacular architecture of the American West, applying it to a distinctly future-oriented purpose. A wall of quartzite creates a sense of continuity with the previously renovated portion and draws visitors through the space. The renewed JAC exists as its own hybrid building type-blending ideas of “home” and “travel hub” and embedding the structure within its natural surroundings.
