San Francisco International Airport will re-open its newly renovated Terminal 2 to the flying public on April 14, but first there will be a media day (April 6th) and a community open house (April 9th.)

For those who can’t attend the open house or who won’t be flying to or from San Francisco on American Airlines or Virgin America – the two airlines that will be using T2 – anytime soon, StuckatTheAirport.com has been offering previews of the terminal.

Part one was about the artwork in SFO’s T2.

That artwork includes a fun piece by Charles Sowers that includes mechanical butterflies.

Elsewhere in the terminal, sound artist Walter Kitundu has installed interactive benches that double as musical instruments.

The wings in one of the birds in Kitundu’s mural can also be played.

Part two of our SFO T2 preview focused on some of the special touches, such as live plants, living-room style furniture, work areas, generous restrooms and those handy water bottle refill stations.

There’s more…

The dining options – which were still under construction when I toured the building – will include: Andale – made-to-order Mexican food
Burger Joint
A restaurant/lounge by Cat Cora, one of the Food Network’s Iron Chef judges
Lark Creek Grill
Napa Farms Market
Vino Volo
Peets Coffee & Tea and Starbucks
Wakaba Sushi & Noodle
and The Plant Organic and Pinkberry frozen yogurt

Shops will include:
Compass Books
Greetings from San Francisco
I-Tech X-perience
Kiehl’s (skin and hair products)
Mango (clothing)
Mosaic Gallery
Natalie’s Candy Jar
Pacific Outfitters
Sunset News
and a branch of XpresSpa

Here a few more photos of what you’ll see in T2:

Artwork that was been stored away during renovation:

Fun seating – even in the baggage claim area:

And plenty of places to plug in and get to work.

Categories: Airport shops, Airports, Art, Bathrooms, Food, Renovations, Shopping
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Art or advertising?

London’s Gatwick Airport is using giant barcodes to both cover up construction walls and share information about what’s going on behind those walls.

Passengers who scan the codes (using a stickybits iPhone / Android app) will see a short video about the airport improvement program.

The first giant barcodes went up earlier this week in the airport’s North Terminal Shuttle stop, with more to follow.

Here’s what you’ll see

Categories: Advertising, Air Travel, Airport guides, Airports, Renovations
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Big things are going on at Fresno Yosemite Int’l Airport .

As part of a remodel project, four “forested locations” are being built (or should we say planted) inside the terminal.

A recent arrival: this giant, walk-through Sequoia tree.

More trees, as well as fallen logs, burned out stumps and other foliage are on their way.

Categories: Art, Renovations
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The bad economy is forcing some airports to delay facility upgrade projects and to cancel others altogether. But Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is just trying to finish a major upgrade to the East Terminal.

Right now they’re rushing to replace 9, 000 square yards of original terminal carpeting in time for the Thanksgiving rush. Look for it between Gates E-2 and E-33, in the passenger waiting areas for Southwest Airlines, USA 3000, Air Choice One and charter flights.

The new carpet is not only ADA-compliant, it’s got a custom design that “mimics the patchwork of crops and fields passengers might see if they were looking down from a plane at 35,000 feet.”

Can you see that???

Categories: Renovations
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The folks at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are having a party to celebrate the grand reopening of Founders Plaza, an airport landmark and a great airplane viewing spot the Dallas Morning News once called the city’s “Best Place to Make Out.”

The “new and improved” Founders Plaza covers twice the space of the former site and has 24-hour security, shaded pavilions, and a sound system that will allow visitors to hear the airport’s air traffic controllers direct the aircraft that will to takeoff or land right over the Plaza.

(Illustration courtesy DFW)

The party begins September 17^th at 10 am and will include a parade, a cookout, and a concert by Olympic gold-medalist-turned-singer Carly Patterson.

Have you been to Founder’s Plaza? The airport is asking visitors and fans of the Plaza to send in memories and photographs that can posted on its Web site.

Categories: Fun Stuff, Renovations
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