Architects help transform today's airport terminals.

Anyone who has traveled through an airport recently is keenly aware that it resembles nothing like the 1960's vision of modern travel, with spacious, chic terminals, well-dressed passengers and composed excitement about the impending journey.

The experience today is more likely to be harried and hurried through confusing concourses crowded with security equipment and long lines of weary shoeless travelers.

The original design of terminals has become significantly disconnected with the new realities of travel. Following 9/11, the demand for increased security inspections at check-in led to stopgap measures far from ideal for passenger convenience. Airlines are moving to improve the situation, to bring back a sense of order and aesthetics to the airport terminal, and knowledgeable architects are integral to this effort.

Graf & Lewent is currently working with Continental Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal C to redesign its overseas passenger check-in area. This project typifies the dilemma airlines at older terminals face in trying to fit high-tech passenger and baggage screening equipment and queuing in spaces never intended for it.

The tremendous challenge for the design and construction team on these airport projects is not always apparent to the public, but experienced architects, working with airline property managers and contractors, are meeting it squarely. Redesigned terminals must accommodate not only the traveling public, but numerous ticket counters and kiosks, baggage check-in, multiple large CTX explosive detection machines, baggage conveyor systems, plus room for security personnel and airline agents to perform their tasks.

From the architect's perspective, this means ensuring all the technical aspects--the mechanical and electrical systems, the specialized security equipment, the high-tech conveyor systems--blend together seamlessly with pleasing aesthetic design and smooth traffic patterns, within budget.

Another unique facet of working with today's airport security-sensitive projects is the number of stakeholders to satisfy. In addition to the airline client, the architect must work with the airport managing agency (such as The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey), federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials, baggage handling system consultants, airline data and communications consultants, subcontractors and specialty equipment manufacturers to develop a construction sequence and schedule that permits the airline terminal to remain in operation and the public to travel safely through it.

One might expect all this to create gridlock. However, Graf & Lewent has worked with stakeholders to substantially streamline processes, keeping the extremely fast-paced project schedules on track. (The Continental Airlines Terminal C redesign project is slated for completion a scant four months from inception.)

Building on our prior experience with Port Authority projects and following the Port Authority's "review by appointment" process, we were able to obtain an accelerated 2-week proposal review.

This required an additional level of preparation, coordination and familiarity with Port Authority procedures and requirements and allowed the project to begin almost immediately. We are able to respond to additional requests by staying in constant communication with the Port Authority and Continental Airlines representatives. Through parallel design, engineering and construction phase scheduling, we remain flexible to handle inevitable "wrinkles," such as the TSA requested reconfiguration of the baggage conveyors to better respond to their operational needs.

Architects must stay abreast of continually evolving security technology, and combine that with the airlines' day-to-day operational experience at terminals to create airport spaces that are evermore integrated. Guided by an experienced architect, the modern redesigned terminal has increased security that is unobtrusive to the public, better traffic flow, and offers a vastly more pleasant traveling experience.

STEVE LEWENT, PARTNERS, GRAF & LEWENT ARCHITECTS