With its 52 square miles — making it the largest international airport in the United States, and the second in the world — you’d think Denver International Airport could easily manage new development without blocking the iconic image of the multi-peaked tented terminal.
Jeppersen Terminal is a rare landmark, the only one like it in the world, and a memorable destination. Approached from air or highway, the white sculptured terminal may remind a viewer of our peerless Rocky Mountains, Native American teepees from long ago, even a circus. It’s spirit-lifting.
So why is the airport even contemplating adding a hotel to the south of the iconic terminal? That’s like building a Great Wall of China in front of it.
On July 30, the city was presented with a proposal for a $650 million, 825,000-square-foot development with FasTracks rail station, and above it an open-air plaza linking station, terminal and 15-story hotel.
The three combine for a height of 180 feet. The existing terminal peaks range from 107 to 126 feet high, much shorter than the proposed addition.
The 500-room hotel looks like a flying bird with a dip in the middle for a glimpse of the tented terminal. Presumably due to unhappy comments, on Sept. 1 it was announced that the hotel might be reduced a floor or two to minimize blocking the original terminal.
The new complex is by celebrated Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who said the existing Denver airport is an important image all over the world. So why didn’t he come up with a grand design that complemented, not obliterated, that terminal, designed by Denver architect Curt Fentress, making old and new even more impressive?
Other design aspects seem short-sighted, too. The airport is out on the plains, where blizzards stop traffic on Interstate 70 in the winter and shade is valued in the summer. Terminal, rail station and hotel will be linked by a very large open-air plaza with a partial glass canopy. Does no one remember what that space could be like in our weather?
The plaza is envisioned as a meeting place, with retail and concession space, perhaps attracting those who would take FasTracks from downtown for dinner or special event. Is there any airport that’s a destination for anyone not traveling?
Travel is hard work. I cherish the Charlotte, N.C., airport, where dozens of high-backed rockers are scattered through the airport for travelers to relax in. Denver could be a leader in finding out what would make the journey easier, more pleasant and memorable. That would certainly be unique.
Denver may become unique in an unpleasant way, if Adams County continues its plan to build a $7.5 million public shooting range 2 miles from the north end of a future runway. The Transportation Security Administration, Homeland Security and the Justice Department all consider the proposed use of automatic and large-caliber rifles a likely threat to DIA security.
Could the proposal be a way to get Denver to “buy off” Adams County? Since the airport opened in 1995, Denver has paid Adams over $40 million for noise abatement. The price would undoubtedly be much higher to not build the shooting range.
Joanne Ditmer has been writing on environmental and urban issues for The Post since 1962.
