For the new 7,128 sq. ft. Plaza Premium Lounge, designers created a luxury airport lounge catering to diverse passengers with unique expectations while incorporating branded elements like the 360° experience, guest amenities, and full-service food and beverage within a long, linear, split-level, and double-sided footprint. As one of the final buildouts to complete a new Terminal, designers needed to concept, design, and build the space to finish in conjunction with the overall project. The interior concept was to create a sense of place, surprise, and delight.
For a distinct character from the rest of the airport, designers selected warm natural wood tones, playful lighting, distinct family and food areas, and large-scale tropical botanical wallcovering that surrounds the two-story entry, inviting guests up to the main lounge.
A digital “Selfie Wall” highlights the upper-level lobby opening to the “Family Lounge” where families can relax and play among a whimsical “Florida garden.” The garden’s focal point is a full-height sculptural “tree” functionally concealing structure and roof drains. Acoustic clouds over the children’s activity space become the tree’s canopy, complimented by the ceiling’s sky-blue finish and soft illumination. Patchwork wall paneling adds dimension and sensory play wallboards together with a seek-and-find animal mural engage young travelers.
The adjacent “Gallery,” where rich wood tones backdrop local nuanced fine artwork, creates familiarity and story welcoming travelers to the region. Designers created the 360° experience by maximizing full-height glass walls to keep views to both the tarmac and the indoor entertainment atrium as open as possible. A sophisticated blue palette and warm wood tones are accented by chainmail ceiling sculptures designed to emulate movement of air. The expansive bar combines quartz stone, a textured tile front, and metallic open shelving to emphasize offerings, and maximize light and views. To accommodate all guests, designers provided varied seating, a community table, banquettes, and quiet lounges integrating accessibility seamlessly. Restrooms feature Spa-like showers with low-flow and hands-free fixtures. Other sustainable features include low-VOC materials, energy efficiency, and air purification systems.
Contractor: Hensel Phelps
Architect: Bermello Ajamil
Interior Designer: Ramski & Company
Photographer: Chad Baumer Photography
