Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)’s Terminal 2 North Expansion project has begun. The 168,000-square-foot expansion will be the first of several projects planned to increase capacity at the facility. The $263 million Terminal 2 North Expansion Project, which is slated to be complete by 2027, will add two additional gates, increase passenger space at the terminal’s northernmost gates, create new restrooms, concessions and additional operational support areas. The airport also plans to increase sustainability measures throughout the terminal in pursuit of a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification.
“We are incorporating many energy-saving and green building systems throughout the new terminal space, including LED lighting, automated building monitoring, rainwater reclamation, and a geothermal system,” said Bridget Rief, vice president of planning and development at the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which operates MSP. “Travelers will experience more spacious gate and concourse areas framed overhead by a cross-laminated wood structure ceiling, which allows more daylight into the terminal and better views to the outdoors.”
MSP will also conduct a concurrent expansion project on the south end of Terminal 2, with two new gates set to open in the fall. Terminal 2 currently serves a mix of international and domestic carriers. The project will be funded in part by a $20 million federal grant for the expansion awarded to MAC by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Airport Terminals Program. In addition to the Terminal 2 North Expansion project, MAC has recently approved the airport’s 2040 Long-Term Plan, which proposes the installation of an additional 18 new gates between the north and south portions of the terminal.
“We are seeing a surge in travel demand, highlighted by a string of record-setting months at Terminal 2 this year,” said MAC CEO Brian Ryks. “This project is a long-term strategic investment to support our airlines, improve the passenger experience, and to keep pace with demand that fuels growth at MSP and in our local economy.”
