Updated, 4:45 p.m. Thursday: Kansas City leaders finally got a glimpse on Thursday of what a new, single terminal at Kansas City International Airport could look like — if voters approve it in November.
Maryland-based Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate was selected to design, build and finance a new terminal last month, but they said renderings of a design would come once they had time to work with the city and reach out to the community.
The initial design features separate levels for arrivals and departures, a two-story fountain with technology to display different messages on the cascading water, and lots of natural light.
Some council members called it "stunning."
But Councilwoman Teresa Loar is concerned it won't be more convenient than the current terminals. The distance from the check-in area to the last gate is about 50 percent farther than in the current configuration.
“We’re quite talking quite a ways, quite a difference in what we have now compared to what you’re showing us here,” Loar said.
Lead architect Derek Moore, of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), said that distance will be made easier with a 600-foot moving walkway.
"When you're inside the building most things will be more conveniently accessible than they are today," Moore said.
Council members peppered the Edgemoor team with questions ranging from how public transportation to and from the airport could be made more convenient, to how the project would be financed.
Managing Director Geoff Stricker said financing details are yet to be decided. He said the Edgemoor team would work to get the best possible deal for the city, and promised the project would remain on budget.
Now Mayor Sly James and the city council will hit the gas on the campaign for the new terminal. They have just over a month to convince a majority of Kansas City, Missouri, voters to approve the demolition of the current three horseshoe configuration, beloved by some in the city, and build a single terminal.
The project is expected to cost $1 billion.
As of Thursday, the campaign for a new terminal had raised just over $500,000.
Lisa Rodriguez is KCUR's afternoon news anchor. She's on Twitter at @larodrig.
