Nashville (BNA) Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition

Interior daylight image of Nashville International Airport's Terminal Lobby with skylights, escalators, ticketing terminals, and passenger security lines

Team

Architect

Fentress Architects

Contractor

Hensel Phelps

Stats

PROJECT TYPE

Aviation

COMPLETION

2023

PROJECT SIZE

560,000 ft²

MKA ROLE

Structural Engineer

Nashville, TN
Nashville (BNA) Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition

Airport expansion and retrofit of the existing central terminal, international arrivals facility, and security checkpoints with six added dual-use gates, all with uninterrupted operations during construction. The project includes a 700-ft-long, curvilinear “airwave” roof connecting the new parking facility to the terminal.

Exterior twilight image of the curvilinear airwave roof and pedestrian skybridge connected to Nashville International Airport's Terminal Lobby and Arrivals Facility, with arriving and departing vehicles dropping off and picking up travelers

Elevated Vision

When Nashville International Airport (BNA) remodeled and expanded its terminal building to include an International Arrivals Facility, it aimed to create something unique. To help achieve this aspirational goal, MKA envisioned an “airwave” roof canopy to serve as the centerpiece of the BNA® Vision.

Beyond its visually striking appearance, the 660-foot-long airwave roof canopy incorporated a clear-span design with innovative features. The single, interconnected, homogenous structure has a maximum span of 180 feet and is stabilized by a moment-frame lateral system. By avoiding joints in the new roof, stability during steel erection was far easier to achieve. In addition, interior columns within the existing terminal were demolished, creating tremendous views and openness within the terminal, as well as cascading natural light throughout the ticketing area and food court.

Finally, the design allowed the airport’s terminal and roadways to remain inviting, safe, and operational during construction. In the end, MKA helped BNA build a new terminal that embodies the Music City’s energy and character, making the BNA® Vision a tremendous success.