A joint venture between Gensler and HDR has been selected to design a new terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport as part of the Allegheny County Airport Authority's Terminal Modernization Program. The JV has also formed an association with the Spanish firm luis vidal + architects to help to design a terminal that will consolidate check-in, ticketing, security and baggage operations into one connected facility. 

The airport authority's board approved an initial $15-million contract for design concepts, which are expected to be unveiled early next year. 

Ty Osbaugh, Gensler's aviation leader and principal, said in a statement that the firm seeks "to enhance the passenger experience through design. … We look forward to jointly creating a world-class experience for Western Pennsylvania." 

Bill Peduzzi, HDR's aviation director, said in the statement that his firm is "committed to leveraging our technical, multidisciplinary expertise to help create Pittsburgh's next world-class airport. As a lifelong resident, I am thrilled to apply what I have learned from a career spent in airport development and hope to inspire the next generation of aviation leaders to continue to innovate and enhance the role great airports can play in a community." 

The winning teams were selected from 11 firms that responded to the airport's initial request for qualifications in January. Four finalists were interviewed by a selection committee before the final decision was made. 

"We are confident that we have assembled a world-class team with the vision, knowledge and experience necessary to work with all of our partners in building Pittsburgh's airport," Christina Cassotis, the airport authority chief executive, said in a statement. "Our selection team has carefully researched best airport design and modernization practices and worked to review qualifications of the firms, their proposals and references."