Nashville International Airport (BNA) opened its new Grand Lobby to the public on Tuesday. The five-story lobby offers 24 security screening checkpoints and a dozen restaurant and retail shops, which are under the management of Fraport USA. The Grand Lobby is part of the BNA Vision renovation and expansion project that began in 2017. The expansion is necessary to accommodate the forecasted 35 million annual passengers over the next 20 years.
A core component of the airport’s BNA Vision plan, the Grand Lobby marks the return to a single terminal operation at BNA. It features a sweeping roof canopy with an oculus skylight reminiscent of an acoustic guitar when viewed from above. It also includes a pedestrian bridge that connects to the Grand Plaza, Terminal Parking Garage and–when completed later this year, the airport Hilton Hotel.
The Grand Lobby interior has two enormous 12K resolution screens. Gentilhomme Studio developed the screens and content with the guiding mantra of “Nashville awaits your return.”
“The new Grand Lobby dramatically changes the look, feel, and energy of the airport,” said Doug Kreulen, BNA president and CEO. “We’ve more than doubled our security screening capacity to handle the region’s growth and popularity as a destination. With large-scale art installations, high-definition video displays, new restaurants, and retail spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows, it will be clear as soon as you step foot into BNA that Nashville is home to a world-class airport.”
Fraport USA said 12 concessions locations have opened as part of the reveal. They are: Music City Shop, Nashville Jam Session, Draper James, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Whiskey Trailhead, Parnassus Books, Lily Palmer Flowers on the Fly, Pharmacy Burger Parlor, Johnston & Murphy, Natalie’s Candy Jar, InTune, and The Atrium. More openings will happen later this year.
The airport will also add a new satellite concourse and International Arrivals Facility later this year, in addition to the Hilton Hotel.
“The opening of the new on-airport Hilton Hotel and International Arrivals Facility later this year will mark the completion of our original BNA Vision plan, but we’re already looking beyond that given Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s unprecedented growth,” Kreulen said “The next phase, which we’re calling New Horizon, is an additional $1.4 billion plan phased out over the next six years with completion in late 2028.”
