Consultant Report: New MCI Terminal to be a Model for Inclusiveness

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is designing the new Kansas City International Airport (MCI) terminal as a model of inclusivity when it opens in 2023.  

“We think of ADA being the baseline minimum,” Jordan Pierce, architect and senior designer for SOM said. “We’re looking where we can do more.”

Among the inclusivity infrastructure being included, the new MCI terminal will have:

·       Reduced walking distances

·        Gradual slopes at all level changes

·        Moving Walkways to support the overall efficiency of moving travelers through the facility and alleviate the additional strain for travelers with reduced mobility.

·        Raised crosswalks to providing easy transition for wheelchair users and persons with reduced mobility

·        Conveniently located accessible parking where accessible parking in the seven-story garage is grouped on the levels adjacent to the Arrivals and Departures levels of the terminal

·        Visual paging throughout terminal at major information display

·        Exterior windows designed to reduce glare for passengers and employees

·        Benches with arm rests to support standing up from a seated position

·        Accessible wayfinding signage and typography that meets or exceeds ADA requirements

·        All service desks will be at ADA accessible height with features such as recessed toekicks for approaching customers and adjustable height monitors for employees.

·        A multi-sensory room to provide a quiet and secure place to encourage a sense of exploration and discovery for children and adults with autism, dementia, or sensory processing disorders

·        A meditation room for travelers to rest and recharge--mind, body and spirit

·        An airplane simulation room for individuals with anxiety or other conditions that may make them fearful of flying

·        Variety KC Inclusive Family Play Zone designed to be wheelchair accessible with features to support play for children with physical restrictions or disabilities

·        Adult-assist changing rooms with changing tables to maximize comfort and accessibility for caregivers and users

·        Two all gender restrooms to benefit those who require the assistance of a caregiver of a different gender and also transgender and gender diverse individuals

·        Accessible family restrooms to provide families with the space and privacy

·        Family-friendly features in all restrooms, such as changing stations with integrated trash receptacles; lower height sinks, so that children may reach the faucets more easily; and an integrated shelf and varied-height hooks in each stall.

·        Infant nursing rooms to providing travelers with a quiet, private space to nurse, pump, or feed their infants

·        Service animal relief areas available in each of the concourses with additional animal relief available outside in an area adjacent to baggage claim

“We were lucky to have a client who was quite ambitious in providing as welcoming of an airport as it could,” Pierce said. “In fact, the mayor’s council on disability issued a proclamation calling for it to be the most inclusive airport in the world. It’s a high bar to set, but something that we were really excited to take on.”

Designers gather input from more than 1,000 Kansas City area residents via dozens of community meetings within each aldermanic district and outreach with various disability advocate organizations. SOM also worked with local accessibility consultant Michelle Ohmes.

“More than on past projects, we were speaking directly with groups that would be using the airport and the groups that would benefit from the kinds of accommodations that the new terminal was planning,” Pierce said.  

Designers learned various lessons by engaging the community, such as loud hand dryers could be really disturbing and detrimental to users with autism, so they opted for paper towels for areas they may engage with.  

“We hope this can be a model in the world of aviation especially in North America,” Pierce said. “This is one of a few new terminal facilities being built right now and we hope it’s on the cutting edge of these accommodations.”

The all-gender restrooms provide benefits for various travelers. For example, people traveling with a child of the opposite gender that’s still too young to use the bathroom alone. The combined space means more area to add additional fixtures in the restrooms, convenience seating and additional changing tables. 

The all-gender restrooms will be combined use, with larger partitions to provide privacy. Single gender restrooms will also be available to accommodate travelers more comfortable in that option.

Accommodations Mean Big Payoffs

Pierce said there’s a tremendous business case for building in these kinds of accommodations and going over and above the requirements as early in the design process as possible. By being as forward looking as possible and building going above and beyond ADA standard requirements airports are giving themselves the future proofing that they want in a facility.

The operator side, there’s great benefit to making your passengers happy and making them feel welcomed provides an opportunity to expand passenger levels. This provides a dual benefit of not only doing what’s right, but also making changes that will have a positive impact on a client’s bottom line.

“Having these facilities in the terminal has the potential to be lifechanging for a lot of these people,” Pierce said. “There are people in Kansas City who right now might not have the ability to travel because the current terminal doesn’t accommodate their needs. They don’t have a quiet place to compose themselves. We want everyone to feel welcomed and the experience of travel for everyone.”