A phased approach for growth

By the late 1990s, travel to and from Pearson International Airport had far exceeded its design capacity. Anticipating further growth toward 29 million annual passengers, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority engaged SOM, in conjunction with Adamson Associates and Moshe Safdie, to imagine the airport’s future: a design for a new main terminal and a phased redevelopment plan for its airfield, maintenance, and cargo facilities.

The design—a multi-level, crescent-shaped terminal that branches out to four pier buildings—accommodates the rise in travelers with 77 gates for domestic and international travel. The spatial planning for the terminal enabled the project to be built in phases, with the airport maintaining operations throughout construction.

Easy and intuitive navigation

At 4 million square feet, Terminal 1 is a massive structure. Natural light and views guide travelers through each of its spaces. Linear skylights aligned between ticketing islands help orient departing passengers and provide visual rhythm within the curving departure hall. After checking their luggage, travelers cross glass-floored bridges to reach the gates, passing through a series of concrete buttresses that support the wing-shaped roof.

In Pier F, which spans 1,500 feet long, the design team worked with Thyssen-Krupp to develop a quick way to move passengers to the gates. The result is the first high-speed moving walkway in an airport—an innovative system that conveys travelers three times faster than a standard conveyor mechanism.

For arriving passengers, the journey begins through double-height concourses lit by clerestories and, echoing the departure hall, skylights above. After passing through immigration, passengers emerge onto the balcony of a naturally lit, two-story baggage claim hall that overlooks the carousels, providing a sense of orientation upon arrival.

Art that reinforces a sense of place

Since the 1960s, artwork has been essential to the Pearson experience. Following an open call for works from both Canadian and international artists, large-scale paintings and sculptures have come to define Terminal 1 both inside and out. Three Inuksuit, a series of statues by artist Kiakshuk that greet departing passengers near the entrance, draws inspiration from traditional Inuit navigation. Inside, a selection of pieces by Sol Lewitt, Richard Serra, Jonathan Borofsky, Robert Charles Coyle, and others use bright color, sculpture, and witty plays on the themes of flight and airplanes to interact with light and space—elevating the travel experience for millions of people every year.