Tulsa Airport's west concourse renovations complete with new amenities

May 24-- Tulsa International Airport's newly renovated west concourse is brighter and more open, and that's just the start of the $29.4 million in updates.

Work is officially finished on the project that took nearly two years, with the last computer kiosk added to the concourse's new business center earlier this month.

Contractors have knocked down walls, put skylights in a roof that was replaced and added amenities that make the airport's sister east concourse look dark and antiquated.

"We want to make sure we not only have a facility that is secure, but one that works well and is beautiful," Mayor Dewey Bartlett said at a ceremony marking the project's completion. "This is the front door to our city for many visitors."

Primary construction on the concourse was finished in March, but it took two more months to install all of the amenities.

Among the notable features are 971 new ergonomically contoured chairs, 396 power outlets, 384 USB ports and a new family restroom.

"The concourse was originally constructed in the 1960s and only received a small upgrade for the PGA's U.S. Open golf tournament in 2001," said airport director Jeff Mulder. "And then we had a lot of dramatic security changes after 9/11 that changed the airport. What we had left was to upgrade the concourses."

The airport authority also purchased eight new passenger boarding bridges at cost of $4.2 million. The upgraded bridges are air conditioned and have on-ground power units that can power the planes while passengers board.

"Now the planes don't have to waste jet fuel while they're loading passengers and luggage," said airport spokeswoman Alexis Higgins.

The west concourse, also known as the B concourse, is home to eight United Airlines and Southwest Airlines terminals. It was renovated first because some of the terminals are not in constant use and it was easier to displace those airlines, Mulder said.

Many of the upgrades are in response to technological demands by travelers, he said. The airport already has free wireless Internet, but travelers were often searching for electrical sockets to plug in computers, mobile phones, music players and other devices.

The new terminal has hundreds of outlets, many conveniently located underneath seats.

The computer-friendly business center also has outlets and USB ports for charging devices, along with chairs and desks.

Behind the scenes, electronic temperature sensors were installed throughout the new concourse to provide even, comfortable temperatures.

Next April the airport plans to start construction on the eastern Concourse A, giving it a look similar to the recently completed project, along with similar amenities, said Mary Smith, vice chairwoman of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust.

Airport officials also are planning renovations to the center terminal known as Schwab Hall and expansions to the airline ticket lobbies.

Sometime next year expansion of the airport's parking garage also will begin, a project that will add about 522 parking spaces and revamp the rental car parking lot, moving it closer to the terminals.

Tenants of the new terminal were just glad that construction is completed.

"This is a beautiful new concourse," said Jeff Odell, station manager for Southwest Airlines, the airport's No. 1 airline in flights offered. "It's the first thing travelers experience when they get to the airport, and it sets a tone for the entire trip."

What's new on Concourse B

Seating: 971 new ergonomically designed chairs were purchased for the gate lobbies. Also, benches and modular seating was brought in for children.

Business center: It has desks and chairs for travelers who need to check email, browse the Internet or get serious work done. It includes USB ports and electrical receptacles for charging devices.

Power outlets: The airport installed 396 power outlets and 384 USB charging ports, along with 109 Powermat charging stations that can fuel devices that are placed on the mat.

Family restrooms: New spacious family restrooms were built so parents and children don't have to worry about fitting into male and female restroom spaces.

Passenger boarding bridges: Eight new bridges were purchased; they have air conditioning to cool the aircraft as well as electric units to power the planes when they're sitting a the gates.

Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380

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