Terminal C will introduce the next generation of “The Orlando Experience.”
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Terminal C builds upon the established Orlando International Airport (MCO) aesthetic of air, water and sky to include a seamless, low-touch environment that offers an exciting combination of concessions, interactive media displays and iconic architecture.
Upon opening, Terminal C will serve up to 12 million passengers annually and feature a new Federal Inspection Service (FIS) facility as well as 15 new gates (accommodating up to 20 aircraft), along with amenities including a nursing station and pet relief areas.
At full build-out, Terminal C can increase capacity at MCO up to 60 million passengers annually.
Among the terminal’s signature architectural elements is The Prow, which sets an uplifting tone at curbside, especially when seen against a dramatic Florida sky.
The ambient natural light that will flow in from this curbside curtainwall, as well as from the terminal’s skylit spine, helps bring the outdoors in, and guides passengers to world-class amenities and onto their gate.
All major building elements—ticketing, security, concessions, gates and baggage claim—will be aligned along The Boulevard, which will lead passengers on a linear journey. The Boulevard will be adorned with a Grand Skylight that introduces dappled daylight and supports lush foliage.
The Boulevard also will connect Terminal C’s two signature civic spaces—Palm Court and Town Square—with the MCO’s Train Station (also known as the Intermodal Terminal Facility), which supports up to four rail systems including Brightline’s inter-city service. Palm Court is located airside, at the terminus of The Boulevard skylight.
As the grandest of Terminal C’s civic spaces, this vibrant location will feature shopping, experiential media, dining, socializing and relaxation lounges in a daylit, garden-like atmosphere.
Second story retail and lofted airline clubs are designed to overlook Palm Court and its experiential media element, which will feature animated, interactive environments that encourage engagement as travelers pass by.
Meanwhile, Town Square is located landside, at the terminus of an elevated international arrivals corridor.
This light-filled, spacious arrivals hall on the terminal’s upper-most level will provide a stark contrast to the buried baggage claims found in so many other airports. It is imbued with a sense of welcoming and openness to enhance the international and domestic passenger experience.
Passengers arriving—often from long flights—will be directed to a unique and uplifting experience: the upper-most level of the terminal. Awash in filtered Central Florida sunlight with majestic views of the local natural environment, this immediate and immersive experience will at once orient travelers to both Orlando and the United States.
Departing travelers will have a similarly pleasant experience with everything from intuitive parking and drop-off areas to a new ticketing hall designed for flexibility, and outfitted with kiosks and outstanding customer service representatives. ■