Filling You In on the Atrium Infill

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is making the best use of its existing space—by filling it in! Currently, there is a lot of open space above the baggage claim area at AUS. With record-breaking passenger and airline activity growth over the last three years, AUS needs to transform from a medium-sized airport into a large airport. One critical step in our journey is to give more queuing space for ticket counters and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints as soon as we possibly can.

The Atrium Infill project will do just that — by expanding the departures level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal by 12,000 square feet! This is important because “AUS was originally designed for 11 million, and we’re at 21 million,” said Van Thompson, one of the project managers working on the Journey With AUS expansion program. 

Van Thompson

The Atrium Infill project is one of many construction projects that make up the Journey With AUS program, a multi-year construction plan allowing for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to grow its terminal, parking and taxiways. This project is specifically aimed at solving the long TSA checkpoint lines that can sometimes extend outside the terminal doors.

This new floor expansion on the departures level will also give the arrivals level a new ceiling! The new ceiling will feature lighting that will enhance the visibility of baggage on the baggage carousels. It will also have new state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. “We are coordinating with the fire marshal and fire engineer,” said Thompson. The Atrium Infill will also allow for a new paging system for public addresses and emergencies. “It will be more efficient and easier to maintain,” said Thompson.

A more efficient heating and cooling system will be installed as well, allowing for a more comfortable indoor climate at TSA checkpoints. “Air handling units need to be replaced every 20-25 years, and AUS is 25 years old,” said Thompson.

The Atrium Infill project brought on the project’s designer and contractor together at the same time at the beginning, allowing for seamless coordination and collaboration between teams. “This way, the builder has input into design, cost control and constructability, and they can collaborate through the entire project,” said Thompson.

Thompson is no stranger to airport construction. He was the Chief Airport Engineer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and has worked for airports and transit systems throughout the country.

Thompson is most excited about the design of the upcoming Atrium Infill, “The beams are designed so that no additional columns will need to be added to the baggage claim area.” This will allow for passengers to still enjoy the guitar sculptures and Barbara Jordan sculpture on display from many angles.

During the Atrium Infill construction, the Barbara Jordan statue will be out of the public’s eye because she will be protected by construction walls showcasing her glass ceiling-breaking life as a public figure here in Texas and on the national stage. Visitors and passengers to the arrivals level of the Barbara Jordan Terminal at AUS will be able to enjoy museum-quality photography illustrating her many accomplishments including being the first black female state senator in Texas, the first black congresswoman elected from the South, and the first black and woman keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. The construction walls surrounding the Barbara Jordan statue will also feature photography of the actual sculpture, so that visitors can still see what the sculpture looks like, while it is protected during the Atrium Infill construction.

Five guitar sculptures will be relocated from Baggage Carousel 3 to Baggage Carousels 5 and 6. That way, the beloved artwork can still greet passengers to AUS as they gather their baggage at the carousels. “They are so well-loved,” said Thompson. The five guitars will be brought back to Baggage Carousel 3 once the Atrium Infill construction is complete. 

New artwork will be installed as part of the Atrium Infill. Thompson is working closely with the City of Austin’s Art in Public Places program to coordinate a new art piece that will be installed in the ceiling of the departures level of the Atrium Infill. It will be brand new art that is currently still being developed by the artist.

As the project manager overseeing both the designer and the contractor, Thompson works closely with other stakeholders too, including those interested in sustainability. “We are coordinating closely with the sustainability group, using best practices and guidelines. Low-carbon concrete is being used,” said Thompson, “We are as much as possible going to recycle material that’s being demolished.”   

Passengers traveling after midnight and before 8 a.m. will hear loud construction noises — and as noisy as it can be, we hope you’ll understand that it’s the sound of progress as we move forward with improving our airport. “We need an 8-hour shift to be productive,” said Thompson, “Employees and passengers will see a lot of walls and barriers. The work will be phased and done at night. We are trying to build this without disruption to operations.” Thompson added, “Bolting and welding will be going on. Contractors are mandated to keep noise below a certain level. We’ll be monitoring to make sure they comply.”

Passengers can look forward to the Atrium Infill’s completion — and more room to roam — in 2026.