In a recent article on the future of airports, The New York Times noted that the average age of an airport terminal is more than 40 years old, meaning many are becoming ill-equipped to deal with modern air travel trends. Unsurprisingly, our editorial has recently featured several aviation expansion projects across the United States as airport authorities respond to a predicted resurgence of the aviation industry following the COVID-19 free-fall.

When designing billion-dollar airport renovations and expansions, architects will increasingly confront novel challenges in addition to increased passenger numbers. The security infrastructure within airports is under constant evolution, with some experts speculating that biometric identification, AI-driven handling systems, and even robotic personal assistants may become commonplace in airports by the end of the decade.

The typology is also coming under increasing scrutiny from climate activists within architecture. Back in 2021, Norman Foster provoked a strong reaction from our readers by defending his firm’s involvement in aviation projects despite concerns over the industry’s carbon footprint. At the end of 2020, Foster + Partners’ commitment to aviation projects saw them withdraw from the Architects Declare campaign after the organizers issued general criticism of firms within the campaign maintaining a “business as usual” approach.

The complex, expensive briefs associated with airport projects, combined with their required command of technology, sustainability, and durability, have led some firms to grow specialized aviation teams within the office. One such practice Is Dallas-based Corgan Associates, who demonstrate a specialty in complex briefs including healthcare, aviation, and data centers.

As part of our ongoing Job Highlights Series, we are covering Corgan’s search for a Terminal Planner to join their Aviation Planning Practice. The firm’s aviation division has previously delivered projects at Chicago O’Hare, LaGuardia, San Francisco International, LAX, and Phoenix Sky Harbor. According to the firm, applicants must be willing to embrace the intricate demands of airport planning, including “airport terminal planning, facility requirements analysis, conceptual design, and systems integration including baggage handling, passenger boarding bridges, aircraft parking layouts, and other related terminal systems.”

Full details on Corgan’s job opportunity can be found here on Archinect Jobs. Stay tuned for future curated job highlights and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more exciting opportunities on Archinect's industry-leading job board. Recent editions of our Job Highlights series have seen career opportunities for a drawing drafter at WholeTree Structures, building simulation analyst at EskewDumezRipple, and building scientist at Payette.