View Smart Windows Improve Energy Efficiency and Passenger Experience at Missoula Montana Airport
View, Inc. Smart Windows have been installed at Missoula Montana Airport’s (MSO) new South Concourse Terminal expansion project.
Scheduled to open in early June, the new terminal includes five new gates to accommodate record growth in passengers visiting the region’s seven wilderness areas and blue-ribbon trout fishing rivers. View Smart Windows are a key component of MSO’s expansion project, which aims to lower the airport’s carbon footprint and establish MSO as Montana’s flagship airport. The windows use artificial intelligence to automatically adjust in response to outdoor conditions, providing continuous views of the surrounding Missoula Valley and Northern Rockies while blocking heat and glare to optimize passenger comfort and reduce energy consumption from lighting and HVAC by as much as 20%.
“MSO is the gateway to Western Montana, and we wanted the new terminal to showcase the region’s spectacular natural beauty,” said the airport’s deputy director, Tim Damrow. “View Smart Windows help us deliver a truly state-of-the-art facility that is energy-efficient and enclosed in floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views.”
In a study on natural light and the airport experience, passengers who boarded at gates with View Smart Windows were 68% more likely to report a higher satisfaction rate and rated the airport as 33% more modern, efficient, bright, and comfortable. A similar study on daylight and views found that seats at gates with View Smart Windows were 15 degrees cooler than those with traditional windows, helping passengers stay comfortable and enabling them to spend more time and money at restaurants, bars, and shops within the airport.
“MSO recognizes that the airports of the future will be designed to measurably enhance the passenger experience and improve facility operations,” said Kristi Crase, strategy director, Aviation at View. “Airports across the country are rapidly adopting View’s smart building technology, and we are thrilled to partner with MSO to transform Western Montana’s biggest airport into a destination in itself.”