Hollywood Burbank Airport Passenger Replacement Terminal

Elevating flight at Hollywood-Burbank

Influenced by old Hollywood glamour, the terminal’s interiors feature the sweeping lines of a modern facility with hints of both art deco glamour and mid-century optimism. The rhythm of the design elements and materials intuitively lead passengers from one functional area to the next while the form creates impressive volumes that instill a sense of excitement and wonder at a grand civic scale. The concept boasts a rich dramatic interior with a mix of materials inspired by the refinement of the era drawing upon the hospitality industry to enhance the passenger experience. Paying respect to the past, but looking forward to what the region will become, the design captures the imagination that shaped the spirit of air travel and the area’s entertainment history.

Time for an upgrade

The improvements to the Burbank Airport will not only create a safer facility that moves the terminal away from the runway and meets current seismic codes but will also increase functional capacity, improve operations, and enhance the customer experience. The team analyzed key access points — including arrival and departure curbsides, commercial and ride-share zones, public parking, the adjacent regional intermodal transportation center, and other airport facilities — to shape a terminal plan that improves current operations while allowing for future growth.

Corgan’s design creates a safe, campus-like environment defined by clarity and ease of movement. Inspired by the surrounding communities, the terminal, garage, and ancillary facilities share a unified design vocabulary that strengthens the sense of place while supporting intuitive wayfinding for pedestrians, vehicles, and public transit users. Natural daylight, integrated technology, and architectural landmarks further guide passengers through the campus, creating a seamless and memorable journey.

Attention to natural light and biophilic elements create a more pleasant experience for passengers while supporting larger sustainability goals for the project. Full height windows fill the corridors and gate lounges with natural light and frame the Verdugo Mountains, while solar control technology manages heat gain to maintain thermal comfort and reduce energy use. A welcoming outdoor plaza offers passengers attractive opportunities for connection to nature while minimizing water use with native plantings and reuse of gray water for irrigation.

Looking to the future

Sustainability is embedded throughout the design, beginning with electrification, an important step towards decarbonization. The new terminal is designed to be fully electric, including all heating and cooling in kitchens for food and beverage retailers. The terminal’s design further reduces the airport’s overall emissions by featuring electric vehicle charging stations and electric ground service equipment. With no combustion on site, the terminal’s carbon emissions will reduce to zero as the California electricity grid shifts to clean energy to achieve zero-carbon. 

Designed for flexibility in passenger and operational needs, the new terminal adds much-needed functionality and safety for the airport while also elevating the design and experience for travelers to the area — balancing a vision for the future with a celebration of its history, technology with human-scale design, and beauty with efficiency.