Amenities Taking Shape
When the terminal is completed, passengers will be greeted by an expansive central atrium. The space will flood the pre-security areas with sunlight, including bag claim. It will also feature a hanging glass sculpture comprised of wooden masts tipped with dichroic glass and LED lights suspended from steel cables creating triangle forms that suggest the Research Triangle Region. Read about other art planned for Terminal 2.
The central atrium will connect the existing ticketing and baggage claim areas with one additional ticketing island and two more bag claims, which will be occupied by Continental Airlines and US Airways, who will move to the facility from Terminal 1.
Also in ticketing will be the addition of a 24-hour Starbucks and a designated meeting place where people can relax while waiting for arriving passengers. The restaurant and meeting space will be next to an expanded security checkpoint, which will see an additional three screening lanes and a reconfigured queuing area.
New Shops and Restaurants
Past security, the future Concourse D is taking shape. The new concourse will join seamlessly with Concourse C. It will feature 17 new gates and a number of shops and restaurants.
New restaurants and shops include Moe’s Southwest Grill, Jason’s Deli, CNBC, Brooks Brothers, Brighton Collectibles and more. Like the current concourse, Concourse D will feature two sets of moving walkways, power outlets at seats and a major art installation.
Transition
Unlike the first phase, this part of Terminal 2 is being built as part of a facility that is already open and operating. Later this year, temporary walls separating the open areas from the construction areas must come down so the two parts of the building can be joined together.
All major work will be completed before the end of 2010. Once that milestone has been met, final preparations will continue until the expected opening in Winter 2011.
For more on the construction of Terminal 2 throughout 2010, visit www.rdu.com/terminal 2.
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