Dallas' Corgan tapped for $2.5 billion San Antonio airport expansion

Dallas Business Journal
By W. Scott Bailey  –  Senior Reporter, San Antonio Business Journal
March 13, 2023

San Antonio has taken another key step toward the implementation of a $2.5 billion airport expansion and improvement plan, with City Council members unanimously approving a $30 million master architect services agreement for the landmark project.

As a result, San Antonio International Airport officials have selected a team comprised of Corgan Associates Inc. and Lake|Flato to carry out the design work for a new terminal complex that could span more than 800,000 square feet.

Dallas-based Corgan is an internationally recognized firm that’s designed airport terminals in multiple U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale.

Lake|Flato, based in San Antonio, has worked on some of the Alamo City’s more iconic projects.

The two companies will serve as the master architect team and will design a new third terminal for SAT. Their chief task, according to airport officials: design a “sense of place” for passengers flying into and out of America’s more unique cities.

Jesus Saenz, director of airports for the San Antonio Airport System, said the Corgan/Lake|Flato team will work to “elevate the local character” of the Alamo City and its terminal facilities.

Corgan, which is currently completing advanced planning for the San Antonio airport expansion, will also provide design services for several enabling projects, including a new ground transportation center and parking garage, terminal support facilities and terminal roadway realignment. 

“All of these architectural and engineering services for our 17-gate new terminal facility will support air service growth over the next few decades,” said Tim O’Krongley, deputy director of the San Antonio Airport System, who heads the terminal development team.

“This is the most important project that the city has going forward,” San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh said as Corgan and Lake|Flato unveiled preliminary design plans for the airport in February.

City Council has also approved a contract for San Antonio-based KGBTexas Communications, a woman-owned agency, to provide advertising and marketing services for the airport system. The scope of its work will include promoting air service and airport concessions, as well as branding initiatives for SAT and the expansion project.

“Few things are more important for economic growth, business and talent development and retention and quality of life than having a world-class airport that meets the needs of our fast-growing region,” KGBTexas founder and CEO Katie Harvey said.