San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 1 has been named among the 2025 Prix Versailles “World’s Most Beautiful Airports,” following a major transformation led by Gensler and Kuth Ranieri.
Now home to 25 new boarding gates, Terminal 1 represents a bold reimagining of the airport experience. A core objective of the project was sustainability: the renovation has reduced the terminal’s carbon footprint by 79% and cut energy usage by 59%.
Terminal 1
Soft natural light filters through the building, creating a calm, restorative atmosphere for travellers. The architectural language celebrates the Bay Area’s rich arts and crafts heritage, contributing to a distinctly local sense of place.
Adding to this cultural dimension is the SFO Museum, the world’s only accredited museum at an airport, which allows for more expansive exhibits and artworks to be shared across terminal spaces, making the airport a cultural destination in its own right.
Named in honour of Harvey Milk, the pioneering LGBTQ+ rights leader, Terminal 1 stands as both a functional gateway and a tribute to inclusion—an example of progressive design meeting civic values.
The list of airports recognised by Prix Versailles can be found here.
