I think the biggest problem with the new terminal is that its an international terminal. More specifically, connections.
By itself, its an average, new building that adds capacity. The shopping /call to gate is cheesy and the lack of gate seating is fixable. But when a large percentage of the traffic is connecting domestically, it becomes a bad design.
Why not a multi terminal setup like Toronto? With domestic and international/transborder in the same terminal. Then group the gates by codeshare and same company connections.
Its not a disaster by any means. But I think anyone who has paid significant amounts of AIFs has a right to be a little grumpy.
Apologies if this has been posted, but found an interesting article on airport design and it seems that maybe this isn't a problem unique to Calgary.
I've also been wondering why they went with a local architecture firm with minimal airport experience (at least from perusing their website) rather than a big international major with a stronger pedigree.
I've also been wondering why they went with a local architecture firm with minimal airport experience (at least from perusing their website) rather than a big international major with a stronger pedigree.
Do you want another Peace Bridge debate?
Because that's how you get another Peace Bridge debate.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
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There have been a few reports of the call to gate signage not updating when it should be, and simply saying "wait, relax, and enjoy". Then jumping to "final call". I'm waiting for someone to miss a flight due to the signage not being updated. If that made the news, it wouldn't help the CTG fight.
Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower
I flew out of the new international terminal this weekend. Customs is much better and so is security. I think it's an upgrade ... it is pretty annoying to fly into domestically though. Came in from Toronto and mtl into the new terminal and it's a bit of a half finished cluster#### to get your bags. If you're with westjet, you have to walk all be way to the A carousel
There have been a few reports of the call to gate signage not updating when it should be, and simply saying "wait, relax, and enjoy". Then jumping to "final call". I'm waiting for someone to miss a flight due to the signage not being updated. If that made the news, it wouldn't help the CTG fight.
Almost happened to me at Heathrow in T5. I was waiting for a connection back home on BA, sitting patiently in the CTG area. Flight time kept getting closer and closer, no idea of what gate to even head towards. Suddenly, 10 min before flight - final call at infield gate XX. Which means I had to sprint to the underground transit to the infield gates, miss a tram that was completely stuffed, get on next tram barely. Get to infield gates and bust ass to the gate, was the last one on the flight. To this day I have no idea how everyone else knew to get there before me, I was watching the board like a hawk. (Just wanted to get home to family after weeks away working)
Skip to 6:25 for a bit of an adventure in IFP for these vloggers a couple days ago when their WS transborder cancelled, everyone then has to clear Canada customs despite not going anywhere (not a fault of IFP)
They're seasoned travellers and still went to the domestic check-in kiosks before being directed down to IFP. I was in the terminal yesterday and the signage seems reasonably clear to me that US/int'l is down at the other end.
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Flew in and out of the international terminal for the first time over the holidays. Loved it. Huge improvement going through customs both ways. My kids loved it too, but they seem to like all things Canadian. Saddledome is my sons favorite arena.
They're seasoned travellers and still went to the domestic check-in kiosks before being directed down to IFP. I was in the terminal yesterday and the signage seems reasonably clear to me that US/int'l is down at the other end.
I bet that happens to a lot of people who are dropping off cars. When you walk inside the terminal from the car rental area, WestJet is right there in front of them.
That was actual a pretty fun video. I like seeing local stuff from the perspective of visitors.
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As a designer I'm just fascinated by the failures in the design of the new terminal. I just wonder who the decision makers were, and how the end product falls so short of serving it's users and stakeholders.
From what I've read the layout is almost hostile to the travelling public, with little thought put into the actual use. From the lack of people moving to the ridiculously short sighted "call to gate" system that just encourages shopping.
But when your anchor tenant (WestJet) is publicly saying "this isn't meeting our business needs" it's a whole new layer to the onion.
As a designer I'm just fascinated by the failures in the design of the new terminal. I just wonder who the decision makers were, and how the end product falls so short of serving it's users and stakeholders.
From what I've read the layout is almost hostile to the travelling public, with little thought put into the actual use. From the lack of people moving to the ridiculously short sighted "call to gate" system that just encourages shopping.
But when your anchor tenant (WestJet) is publicly saying "this isn't meeting our business needs" it's a whole new layer to the onion.
Yeah but all the A380s that will be coming in and all that nonsense. It had to be designed this way.
So I guess the dream of a lowering of the "Airport Improvement Fee" is out the window, with that money needed to fix up this debacle.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
Seriously, who buys anything at an airport besides a coffee or an overpriced bag of chips. "OOOOOOOH! Look, I mug that says I heart YYC for only $35!"
It boggles my mind that anyone actually buys anything at all in an airport besides an absolute life dependent necessity you forgot and cannot complete the current leg of your travel without.
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