PROJECT DESCRIPTION

With the opening of its $1.7 billion terminal in November 2025, Pittsburgh International Airport establishes a global benchmark for experiential infrastructure. Designed by Gensler and HDR in association with Luis Vidal + Architects, the project embodies the NaTeCo philosophy—Nature, Technology, Community—through architecture that is both performative and precise.

The Petal Tunnel designed by Luis Vidal + Architects and fabricated by Eventscape forms the experiential spine of the expansion. Extending 95 feet in length, 22 feet in width, and 9 feet in height, the pedestrian connector replaces the airport’s former underground train system, unifying landside and airside circulation in one seamless procession.

The Tunnel’s sculptural canopy comprises 23 rows of paired petals—44 unique forms in total. Each petal is individually shaped with a conical curve and tapered width, creating dimensional rhythm and a sense of unfolding motion. The design draws inspiration from Pittsburgh’s defining civic moment: the breathtaking skyline reveal that greets drivers exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel beneath Mount Washington. Within the airport, that fleeting spectacle becomes permanent.

Eventscape realized the Petal Tunnel’s complex ceiling through design, turnkey development, fabrication, and installation. A modular steel strut channel substructure clamp-connects to base building beams, forming a robust framework. From this armature, threaded rods suspend custom-fabricated aluminum tube frames—precision-rolled 2” x 4” members shaped to achieve each petal’s distinctive geometry. A bespoke tensioning system maintains alignment and curvature across varied heights and angles.

Clad in architectural-grade translucent membrane sealed with PTFE and coated on both sides in FEP, the petals offer durability, consistent color transparency, and minimal maintenance. Integrated lighting with colour changing capabilities transforms the canopy into a luminous gradient, while speakers and mechanical systems are seamlessly embedded within the tunnel envelope, ensuring comfort, acoustics, and technical performance without disrupting visual purity.

By replacing mechanized transit with a walkable, multisensory connector, the Petal Tunnel streamlines operations and enhances sustainability. It is simultaneously bridge, tunnel, and installation—an immersive gateway that captures Pittsburgh’s resilience and innovation in light, form, and sound.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES