OREANDA-NEWS. SFO today unveiled the newly renovated Boarding Area E in Terminal 3, a stylish and sophisticated state-of-the-art facility that will offer 10 gates for United Airlines. With an innovative design by Gensler and the KPA Group, and constructed by Hensel Phelps, Boarding Area E offers several unique features that set it apart from other airports around the country - including world-class art, customized interactive digital displays, luxury amenities and Bay Area-centric retailers and food purveyors. When it opens for passengers on Tuesday, January 28, the new facility will accommodate more than 50 arrivals and 50 departures each day for United Airlines' customers. The Bay Area community is invited to a sneak preview of the boarding area at T3E Community Day on Saturday, January 25 from noon - 5pm.

The USD 138 million renovation of Boarding Area E is part of a capital program to renovate SFO's Terminal 3 East (T3E), which includes the 68,800-square foot Boarding Area E and the 150,000-square foot eastern concourse connecting to Boarding Area F. Closed since July 2012, Boarding Area E has been completely transformed to meet the needs of today's modern traveler. With a sophisticated design that offers abundant natural daylight, sweeping views, unique lounge-like seating and waiting areas, thoughtful luxury guest amenities and spectacular public art installations, Boarding Area E redefines the travel experience with an emphasis on comfort, convenience and sustainability.

“SFO's Terminal 3, Boarding Area E is another example of how San Francisco is investing in its infrastructure, creating jobs, and improving the airport with the best in the nation environmental leadership and sustainability goals,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “T3 Boarding Area E provides a unique innovative, passenger-focused experience that travelers from around the world will enjoy in the 'Innovation Capital of the World.'”

“We are delighted to unveil Boarding Area E which we hope sets a new gold standard for air travel,” said John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “Living and working here in the Bay Area inspires us to raise the bar and exceed expectations for today's modern travelers by providing the best technology, intuitive contemporary design, captivating public art and outstanding local cuisine.”

“The ultra-modern Boarding Area E is another element that makes our San Francisco hub so customer-friendly,” said Jeff Smisek, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines. “This facility, combined with our strong team and wide range of routes, makes travel through SFO an easy choice for our local customers and connecting passengers alike.”

“The Hensel Phelps led Design-Build Team with Gensler and KPA is excited to unveil a portion of T3E and the new Boarding Area E to the City of San Francisco and the world,” said Jim Pappas, Vice President & Northern California District Manager, Hensel Phelps. “This great project could not have been accomplished without the tremendous effort and quality work that was put-in-place by local craft and the subcontracting community in true partnership with Hensel Phelps, SFO, United and PGH Wong.”

“The T3E opening has given Gensler the chance to build upon our design work at T 2,” said M. Arthur Gensler, Jr., Founder, Gensler. “I believe the T3E Terminal will continue to raise the bar in its passenger friendly design, availability of technology, public art and the best of local food.”

“SFO's new Boarding Area E, Terminal 3 reflects San Francisco's reputation as a hub for innovation and creativity,” said Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny. “Travelers passing through the new boarding area will have free access to some of the finest and most important works in the city's collection by such luminaries as Jay DeFeo and Wayne Thiebaud, to name a few. This project also enabled the Arts Commission to add two new works to this important collection-an enchanting psychedelic installation by Eric Staller and a large-scale light installation by Merge Conceptual Design.”

Originally constructed in 1981, Boarding Area E was renovated through a design-build partnership between Hensel Phelps, Gensler and the KPA Group and now offers 10 gates for United Airlines' customers. Whether traveling for leisure or business, solo or with friends and families, the updated Boarding Area E is designed to offer all guests a five-star experience. Key features include:

The Flight Deck - Designed by Razorfish expressly for SFO, the Flight Deck is a highly engaging interactive infotainment center at the Boarding Area's entry that provides information about SFO and San Francisco;

Lounge Seating - Comfortable and diverse seating options, including the iconic Fritz Hansen “egg” chairs; swivel lounge chairs and whimsical Bouloum Loungers;

Spirogyrate - The thoroughly mesmerizing interactive art installation designed by Bay Area artist Eric Staller will delight kids and adults alike;

Plug In - More than 375 power outlets and nine state-of-the-art work stations make working and playing on the road easy and comfortable;

Free WiFi - SFO's free WiFi will be available to all passengers and, thanks to multiple access points will be accessible throughout the Boarding Area and on the airplanes at the gates;

Maps On The Go - Interactive wayfinding displays that allow guests to download important airport information directly to their phones;

Thoughtful Amenities - You'll have no trouble rolling your luggage into the spacious, 5-star restrooms with private dressing areas and a private nursing area with comfortable loungers for mothers and their children;

Recharge and Reboot - Following on the success of SFO's Yoga Room in T2, Boarding Area E will offer a second Yoga Room for passengers;

Sky - The dramatic suspended light sculpture from Merge Conceptual Design at the end of the Boarding Area is a destination point in and of itself;Bay Area Artists - In partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission, five paintings from SFO's art collection will be re-installed, including Wayne Thiebaud's 18th Street Downgrade, Jay DeFeo's Masquerade in Black, Carlos Loarca's Angulos en Todas Las Direcciones, James Torlakson's Behind Ted McCann's Garage, and Robert Bechtle's San Francisco Nova;

Bay Area Views - 23-foot-high window wall offering up-close views of the airfield and the Bay Area beyond;

A Taste of the Bay Area To Go - Dining and retail from Bay Area favorites, including Collector, Dogpatch Bakehouse & Cafe, Tech Showcase, Klein's Deli, Marilla, McEvoy Ranch, Mission Bar & Grill, See's Candies, San Francisco Travel News, Urban Tortilla and XpresSpa;

Mindful Design - Designed and built to achieve LEED® Gold certification with multiple features to reduce carbon emissions and create a healthful environment for travelers and staff, including: natural lighting; photovoltaic panels; locally sourced materials like Heath tiles from Sausalito; displacement ventilation; cool roof technology; sustainable building materials like terrazzo flooring with recycled glass chips and recycled content carpeting.

Already underway, the second phase of the Terminal 3 East program is the connecting concourse between Boarding Areas E and F that includes a state-of-the-art security checkpoint with up to 10 lanes and new “wait time” technology, an additional three airplane gates, and expanded concessions and guest amenities. With a budget of USD 209 million, this portion of the project will re-open in phases between July 2014 and July 2015. During the concourse renovation, passengers will be able to easily connect between Boarding Areas E and F through a temporary passageway featuring contemporary finishes and varied seating options to enhance the passenger journey.

Additionally, in the months following the re-opening of Boarding Area E, United will introduce other features in Terminal 3 that are designed to enhance the experience of the airline's customers, including:

A temporary United Club, scheduled to open this May and to operate until a new United Club is ready to open next summer

A new Global Services reception area and Premier check-in area, both scheduled to open this September

A new Station Operations Center, from which the airline manages its departures, arrivals and customer service, expected to open this April

United also anticipates moving its existing Terminal 1 Boarding Area B operations to Terminal 3 by mid-May 2014, making travel more convenient for customers who currently connect between terminals.