The Port of Seattle has approved $1.1 billion in initial funding for a $2.5 billion renovation of Sea-Tac’s S Concourse, with construction due to begin in 2027.
The Port of Seattle Commission has authorised initial funding for the next phase of modernisation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), approving the S Concourse Evolution project ahead of major construction due to begin in 2027. The estimated $2.5 billion scheme forms part of the wider $5.5 billion Upgrade SEA capital improvement programme and will convert the 1973 facility, which primarily serves international travellers, into what the airport describes as a world-class concourse.
The project will not increase the number of gates on the concourse, as there is no space to expand between the main terminal and the airfield. Instead, it will repurpose part of the customs area vacated when the International Arrivals Facility opened in 2022, adding 150,000 square feet of space. This includes a new upper concourse level, improved dual-level boarding for select gates, and expanded dining, retail, lounge and passenger amenities.
Seismic and structural upgrades
Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins said the authorisation built on recent investment at the airport. “Today’s authorisation to move forward with the S Concourse Evolution builds on the generational investments we are making at SEA to improve the passenger experience,” he said. “The project will add critical seismic, structural, and building systems upgrades to improve long-term passenger circulation as well as operational efficiency.”
SEA Airport Managing Director Wendy Reiter said the age of the existing building made the upgrade necessary. “The existing building is over half a century old, making it challenging for us to meet our goals of providing the best possible service to our travellers and tenants; this is a necessary upgrade,” she said. “As we’ve done in previous Upgrade SEA projects, we’re being innovative by building up and not out.”
Kevin Keady, AECOM West Region Business Leader of Buildings and Places, said the design balanced resiliency improvements with modernisation. “The design solution for the S Concourse Evolution project carefully balances required resiliency improvements to the existing structure and systems, increased efficiency for aircraft operations and building services, and modernisation of the interior to enrich the traveller experience,” he said.
Construction will take place in multiple phases over eight years, allowing continuous flight operations at most gates throughout. A temporary S Annex will support ground boarding during construction, with the aim of limiting disruption to no more than three of the concourse’s 12 gates at any time. All phases are expected to be complete by 2034.
The scheme also targets LEED Silver certification, with sustainable design strategies expected to deliver a 58 per cent reduction in annual operational greenhouse gas emissions and a 16 per cent reduction in annual energy use against Port standards. Today’s Commission authorisation covers $1.1 billion of the total $2.5 billion cost, funding the project into 2029, with remaining costs to be presented to Commissioners at a later date. Funding will come from the Airport Development Fund and future revenue bonds, with no taxpayer money used.
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