At San Francisco International Airport, art and design have been woven directly into the fabric of terminal redevelopment to create more than just a transit space—they’ve created a civic and cultural destination. The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 renovation and related projects showcase how site-specific art can elevate the passenger experience, reflect community values, and transform infrastructure into a catalyst for social connection.
This session will explore SFO’s approach to integrating art into a major capital program, including how the airport worked with curators, architects, and builders to align artistic vision with operational and financial realities. Panelists will discuss design coordination, funding strategies such as percent-for-art programs, and lessons learned in embedding cultural expression into high-performance infrastructure.
Attendees will leave with a playbook for using art and design to enhance community identity, enrich the human experience, and set new standards for airport and civic projects alike.
