North Carolina officials have approved spending $518 million on a renovation of the lobby at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) — part of a project which could eventually cost $600 million (£466 million).
The Charlotte Observer reports that the project will not include any new terminals but will result in a completely new public face for passengers arriving at the airport.
The lobby will be expanded by 16,200 sqm and will feature larger security checkpoints, more ticketing and baggage claim areas, and a larger lobby floor. The existing 17,700 sqm lobby, built in 1982, also will be renovated.
A 13,500 sqm outdoor canopy will cover the roadway leading to the lobby as well as two new pedestrian walkways accessing the parking garage.
The original airport lobby was built to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year. Currently, the airport handles 12.5 million passengers annually.
The lobby project is slated for completion in late 2025; it is part of a larger, $2.5-3.1 billion renovation and expansion initiative at the airport dubbed Destination CLT.
