By Amy Hillenburg, Mooresville/Decatur Times
ahillenb@md-times.com
INDIANAPOLIS - A lot of names, designers and artists are associated with the new Midfield Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport - too many to remember.
But airport spokesman David Dawson said there are only three things the public needs to remember: to reach new Midfield Terminal, they will take Interstate 70 and look for Exit 68. That route will take them directly to the airport's new main entrance.
The official opening of the terminal, Civic Plaza and parking garage will be Tuesday evening, Nov. 11.
Dawson said only arrival flights will be using the airport at that time, and anyone leaving Indianapolis on an airplane that day will do it from the old terminal.
"The first departures will begin Wednesday morning, Nov. 12," Dawson said. "We really wanted to have our opening on Veterans Day."
Airport officials have already launched an information campaign, driving those three facts home through billboards on roads around the airport perimeter. Print ads, radio and news spots will follow closer to the opening.
The terminal and roadway are named for Hoosier hero Col. Harvey Weir Cook, a distinguished World War I and World War II flying ace. The airport was named for him in 1976, but later renamed Indianapolis International Airport in the heyday of ATA flights to Mexico. Memorabilia and a display will also honor Cook in the new terminal.
"The placement of the terminal, pretty much in the middle of the airport, will cut airplane taxi time in half," Dawson said. "From about 8 to 10 minutes to about 4 or 5 minutes. I've been told it will save about $12 million in fuel costs."
Dawson said the general public can view the new airport on upcoming community days, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12. Dedication ceremonies and an open house will be scheduled at that time. Dawson said people would be able to see everything, right down to the bag screening area one floor underground. That doesn't necessarily mean access to the impressive control tower.
"We had a media day at our ribbon-cutting in April, and someone said, 'Let's go up in the tower.' Since then, I believe for security reasons, the FAA has limited tower visits," Dawson said.
Terminal is light and airy
When passengers arrive, they will see an airport of glass, color and light; paired with ease, calm and convenience. To understand the scope of the project, head designers Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum Inc. created a terminal that is 1.2 million square feet and a 2.5-million-square-foot parking garage with a glass atrium. An abstract garden is a tribute to the Wright Brothers and the history of flying. An original bright red wing of an F-14 is displayed there. Even the end caps of the ticket counters are shaped like the backs of airplanes. There are other landscaped areas where expansion could take place in the future.
Dawson said the $1.1 billion project would probably come in under budget. It has been partially funded by $120 million in federal safety money and bonds, which will be paid off by vendor and parking revenues. The IAA registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which incorporates environmentally sound and energy-efficient standards in all phases of the design and operation.
"We're not allowed to ask for appropriations from the city of Indianapolis or the state," Dawson said. "We do have the ability to raise the property tax, which we've never done."
One of the things Dawson is most proud of is the Indianapolis Airport Authority's partnership with museum boards of eight Indianapolis institutions to create a "Cultural Crossroads" environment, where merchandise and displays will be offered.
Passengers and visitors can mingle in Civic Plaza without tight security restraints, mainly because Indianapolis is an origination airport - not a destination airport. Dawson said the IAA is seeking international flight connections, and airlines are already servicing Toronto, Canada. He added that the international boarding area is situated near expanded taxi lanes and airplane parking. Passengers will not have to be out in the weather to disembark.
But international connections will have to rest with the carriers. And Dawson said right now, they are struggling under rising fuel costs.
"Indianapolis continues to be a focus city for Northwest Airlines, and we are pleased to offer seasonal service to Mexico," said Michelle Aguayo Shannon, media relations manager for Northwest. "We continue to look at ways to bring new international travel destinations to our Indiana customers. We offer access to destinations throughout the world through our hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis."
But news reports said in June that Northwest was cutting its capacity by 3 to 4 percent because of high fuel prices. The carrier was also searching for ways to shrink its staff through voluntary means and then possible layoffs. Cuts in flights were expected in the fourth quarter of this year.
Passengers can relax and enjoy wait
After being transported by people-moving walkways, passengers can go to one of two concourses, with 20 gates each. They can return to Civic Plaza to shop at Vera Bradley, Indiana Marketplace, Hoosier Marketplace, Brooks Brothers or Pacific Outfitters. They can eat at Shapiro's, Cafe Patachou, the Indianapolis 500 Grill & Brickyard Authentics, TGI Fridays or have ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. They can wake up for an early flight with Starbucks coffee and a muffin.
Visitors can ponder colored glass panels by Martin Donlin, with poems included by such writers as Norbert Krapf of Hammond. "There are 14 of these; so far, we've only broken one, and another came in with a misspelled word," Dawson laughed.
Chris Schwartz, vice president of marketing for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said licensing and the IMS retail group were involved in the plans for the airport restaurant. They had been talking last fall about a possible extension to the Speedway's merchandise slot at the terminal.
"We weren't looking for a stand-alone restaurant site somewhere," Schwartz said. "But when this opportunity came up, it seemed a natural addition to the shop. We're excited for the airport to open. With Internet recognition, Indianapolis is known as the racing capital of the world. People come to the city from all over for the 500 and the Brickyard races."
Schwartz said that the timing for the IMS is just right. In 2009, the Speedway will celebrate its 100th year in Indianapolis.
Airport boasts family-friendly facility
As he leads media and group tours at the new airport, Dawson points out the environmentally friendly terminal, atrium and sliding glass entrances. Radiant heating and cooling are built into the floors, which for the most part are terrazzo tile. And vestibules at the entrances keep outside dust, cold, snow and heat from entering with passengers.
Each restroom has a family unit to handle more than one child and parent, and provides three handicapped-accessible stalls with automatic doors and various heights.
Artists and sculptors Lynn Basa, Arlon Bayliss, Dale Enochs, James Willie Faust, Tom Torluemke and Nhat Tran have fashioned mosaic panels, floor and wall designs and sculptures for the grounds, parking garage and terminal. All the artists are from Indiana, and Basa is a Bloomington native.
Dawson said the glass walls are made of laminated glass, which does not shatter, but would simply crack and break in a catastrophic event.
"People can look out over the whole airport and watch the planes land while they sip their drink, wait on their flight or arriving passengers," Dawson said. "We're not sure what we will do with the old terminal. We still have ticketing there and our six-floor administrative office building - and we've got a little more on our plate right now than planning for that."