Jaunted

That’s bad news for Will and Kate who are supposed to swing into town for a bit of a polo and a little lunch from celeb chef Giada de Laurentiis. Although, maybe they can get a sneak peek and be taken through the back door or something.

The original airport terminal was built in 1940s, and unfortunately it just couldn’t keep up with the influx of passengers and planes. Around $60 million later there’s now a brand new terminal along with plenty of updated aircraft parking and other airplane infrastructure stuff. The new place is around ten times the size of the former building, and now houses plenty of spots to check-in, rental car counters, as well as a glass enclosed back patio area.

There’s four different gates—there’s not that many flights—that each face huge windows so that passengers immediately know that they’re in Santa Barbara upon arrival. Unfortunately, this also promotes depression, as you will be reminded what you’re leaving behind when you finally do plan to head out of town and back home.

Environmental concerns shaped the design and building of the new place, and if all the finishing touches go as planned, it’s expected that the terminal will achieve LEED gold certification. Art installations don’t go into the certification, but they certainly can’t hurt. There’s a huge mural—Fiesta—that was rescued from storage and now sits atop the stairs. Santa Barbara Star Gazing—a hand painted portion of the ceiling—along with Santa Barbara 360—a ceramic tile mosaic floor—awaits passengers at the north entrance are just a couple of the most artistic features of the new building.

Overall it sounds like and looks like airport officials have done a great job keeping the historic aspects of the old terminal into the new terminal. There’s no need to worry about the old building either, as once the new place opens the bulldozers and hard hats move over to the former terminal for a full refurbishment as well. Things over there should be begin in December or so.

[Photo: SBA]