Hopkins Airport is set for a $1.1 billion transformation
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The proposed new Hopkins terminal will rise on the site of the current Smart Parking Garage. Renderings: Courtesy of Corgan
Cleveland Hopkins Airport is getting a $1 billion-plus new terminal and a new branding campaign associated with the project: "CLEvolution," city officials announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: The project is the most ambitious in Hopkins' history and offers a jolt of energy for a facility routinely ranked at or near the bottom of its class in customer satisfaction.
- "For us to have a world-class city, we need to have a world-class airport," Mayor Justin Bibb said as officials unveiled a suite of architectural renderings.
Yes, but: The revamp will take years to complete and remains in its early conceptual stages. Hundreds of millions more dollars must be approved before a new terminal rises, and the current plans and pictures are subject to change.
- The grand, glass, wave-like structure depicted in the renderings (if built according to the current timeline and budget) wouldn't open to passengers until 2032.
That said, changes are definitely on the horizon.
- Airport officials have heard complaints about the grim passenger experience "loud and clear," Hopkins director Bryant Francis told reporters, noting short-term improvements will be made as CLEvolution rolls out in phases.
State of play: Early last year, Hopkins' main airline partners approved spending $175 million to begin modernizing the terminal, a project that began with the demolition of the Sheraton hotel to make way for more parking.
Last week, the airlines approved an additional $301 million to fund additional parking capacity and pave the way for the broader transformation.
What's next: A new 1,600-space lot — the Gold Lot — will debut in 2026.
- Once operational, a new vertical garage will be constructed on the site of the current Orange Lot. It will include a new ground transportation center and RTA rapid stop.
Once that garage is completed in 2029, the current Smart Parking garage will be demolished to make way for the new terminal.
Between the lines: Francis noted Tuesday that when Hopkins was a Continental hub, most of the passengers in Cleveland were passing through.
- The evolution of Hopkins as an "origin and destination" airport has necessitated increased space for curbside pickup, ticketing and security.
Reality check: A prominent sign at Tuesday's media event reminded attendees that all visual materials were intended for "conceptual and illustrative purposes only."
- "They do not represent the final design, specifications, or materials and are subject to change without notice."
