Long Beach Airport Unveils New Terminal

The sprawl of temporary trailers are--thankfully--just that: temporary for the Long Beach Airport (LGB) while they continue construction on the much-needed new terminal.

In a partnership with local firm Studio One Eleven, the entire design is Long Beach-y in the sense that it not only caters to local businesses rather than chains (this keep-it-local mentality is what has driven success in neighborhoods such as Retro Row and the East Village while the lack of it has exacerbated desolation in areas like the Pike), but also ties in the airport's historical value with contemporary comfort. When you enter the main building, for example, one should notice the restoration occurring of the mosaic floor that was uncovered once tattered carpets and flooring were removed; this old-school aesthetic is what ushers one into the new, more contemporary terminal that seeks to, in the words of LGB, become the gateway into Long Beach.

The two new buildings--the North and South Concourses--will be situated on the ends of a stretch of garden on axis with the original terminal constructed during the 1940s. Using a variety of environmentally sound and natural materials--reclaimed wood veneers that range from green to gray, coconut shell counters, Carrera marble--the gist of the new terminal seems focused entirely on comfort, encouraging travelers to not just simply pass through, but engage with the space.

The South Concourse seeks to make a home for the business-minded visitor. McKenna's On the Fly--a play on popular seafood-ery McKenna's On the Bay--will act as the mainstay dining experience for the space, evoking a modern American chophouse that uses deeply rich colors with leather, reclaimed woods, and hexagonal shapes; a sushi bar will be centrally located in the restaurant. Local Belmont Shore favorites Polly's and Sweet Jill's will share a space to offer travelers in need of caffeine and something to cure their sweet-tooth. And in the airport's only non-local branding partner, CNBC will serve as the main news source.