Wilmington, N.C., Officials Hope Airport's New Look Reflects the South

Posted on Mon, Mar. 22, 2004 
 
Wilmington, N.C., Officials Hope Airport's New Look
Reflects the South
Miami Herald, FL


Mar. 21 - Contemporary and soulless; a facility that
could be found anywhere in the country.

That's how airport officials viewed the "old" terminal
at Wilmington International Airport.

It's an image they hope has been vanquished with the
facility's $9 million modernization and expansion,
which is nearing completion. With its extensive use of
brick, wrought-iron railings, traditional lamps and
rocking chairs, officials hope the "new" terminal
reminds people where they are.

"We're a Southern community, and we wanted the airport
to reflect that," said Airport Director Jon
Rosborough.

Although the terminal only opened in 1991, the
architecture already was feeling dated just a decade
later, said Parks Griffin, former chairman of the
Airport Authority.

He said that when it came around to draw up plans for
the building's renovation, officials decided to focus
on a traditional look that would both reflect
Wilmington and could stand the test of time.

They settled – or borrowed, might be more accurate –
on the look of the Savannah International Airport.

The result, officials hope, is a terminal that
wouldn't look out of place on the campus of the
University of North Carolina at Wilmington or in the
downtown historic district.

Does the traveling public really care what an airport
looks like?

Mr. Rosborough said most visitors might not.

But he said it's one more selling point that could
help promote Wilmington and potentially stem the
"leakage" of local passengers to Raleigh-Durham or
Myrtle Beach airports.

And with a facility that dogged by a reputation for
high prices – which, officials are quick to point out,
the airport doesn't control – it can't hurt to offer a
nice traveling environment.

"We want to be the most convenient and hospitable
airport that we can be," Mr. Rosborough said, ticking
off some of the advantages about flying out of the
local facility over busier airports.

As she walked around pointing out some of the
"Southern" touches to the new terminal, Deputy Airport
Director Julie Wilsey said the hope is the new "old"
architecture can better weather the sands of time.

"We don't want a building that's going to date
itself," she said as crews worked on the new canopy
between the terminal and the short-term parking lot,
which is sure to be one of the modernization project's
most popular additions.

Mr. Griffin said that with its traditional feel, the
terminal now reflects the feel of the region.

"The airport for many is the first impression they
have of Wilmington, and we felt like it was important
to have an attractive look that makes a positive
statement about our community," he said.

 

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