Leaders from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) recently presented their approach to airport design at a major global conference in Madrid.
The Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference, held from 8–10 April 2025, brought together experts from across the aviation industry.
During the event, Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA), and Paul Hoback, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, explained how the PIT transformation project is leveraging innovation while constructing a new passenger terminal.
The presentation, titled “Disrupting Airport Design Philosophy at the New PIT,” focused on how the project team was chosen and how the airport is being redesigned to meet the needs of both travellers and staff.
Cassotis explained that the goal was to build something that truly works for everyone who uses the airport — passengers, employees, and partners.
Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority said:We think of innovation in terms of workforce, energy, accessibility; in terms of construction, in terms of how we work, culture and everything we do. We have all the right ingredients — we have a city and a community that has been innovating since its founding, we have an airport and a team that has been dogged about pushing the industry forward, using the assets of our community.
We wanted to make sure that what we built was going to work for the people who work at the airport, travel through the airport, partner with the airport.
In addition, Hoback shared how the redesign draws on Pittsburgh’s character, including local architecture, natural elements, and a strong sense of place. The design features include tree-inspired columns, a connector bridge, natural light, and lighting that reflects the stars — all aimed at giving passengers a unique experience rooted in the region.
Paul Hoback, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer said:We wanted to make sure we reflected Pittsburgh in the design of the transformed PIT.
That is truly what we set out to do at the beginning of this project, making sure we took the time to plan, elevating the airport experience for all.
The transformation project has also had a significant local impact. Around 14,300 jobs have been created, with 90% of the workforce and materials sourced locally. The work has contributed an estimated 2.5 billion USD to the economy, and has been funded without using local or state tax money.
In addition to construction, the project supports workforce development through initiatives like PIT2Work, a pre-apprenticeship programme, and on-site childcare for workers.
For more information on Pittsburgh International Airport’s new 1.57 billion USD terminal building, read our recent guest article from Paul Hoback, EVP, Chief Development Officer at Allegheny County Airport Authority.
