Part of the flooring project on the C concourse. Photo: Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. - OPShots.net
(July 20, 2011) -If you haven’t been to Cleveland Hopkins airport for a while, you are missing out on a remarkable transformation underway. The transformation takes the form of a new project that will see all the carpeting replaced with brand-new terrazzo flooring complete with dynamic graphics and vibrant murals.
The gray carpeting that was ubiquitous throughout the airport was never very popular or attractive, often smelled musty, and was very difficult to keep clean. Furthermore, it was just plain boring!
In one of the boldest terminal improvement moves to come in recent years, airport administrators decided to put in new flooring that breaks up the monotony of the gray, and replaces it with designs that actually make you feel like you’ve either arrived at or are getting somewhere! Although only a small portion is complete, one can’t but help but think that the visually stimulating finished product will be a good way to subtly entertain yourself on your way to your gate, or a cheerful way to be welcomed to Cleveland.
In addition to the new concourse walkways, the flooring will be interspersed with seven large murals depicting “Cleveland, A Green City on a Blue Lake, past, present and future.” The first of these murals, titled “Hooked on Cleveland”, by artist Claire Sullivan was unveiled on June 2, 2011 by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, airport director Ricky Smith, and other dignitaries. This attractive mural can be found just airside of the C concourse TSA screening area and features a depiction of Lake Erie with a large walleye fish center stage, and a variety of other iconic Lake Erie and Cleveland symbols along the border and elsewhere throughout the piece. A complete listing of all seven permanent artworks can be found here: https://www.clevelandairport.com/Airport-Guide/News—Media-Relations/Press-Releases/Cleveland-Hopkins-unveils-Terrazzo-Floor-Artwork.aspx
The flooring project is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to plans for CLE Hopkins. A master plan designed to take the airport through the year 2035 addresses many current issues and draws plans for future improvements, all designed to make the airport more functional, increase capacity, and improve the infrastructure. One of the design plans calls for a dedicated cargo facility above and beyond the already spoken for FedEx and UPS ramps, allowing for lucrative cargo movements to be handled by other freight carriers as well, which will help to bring additional dollars to the city.
Although already behind schedule, preparation work for a new FAA control tower is currently underway. This tower will be located between the airport post office and the I-X Exposition Center, replacing the present tower which was opened in 1999. Existing plans call for it to be 300 feet in height eclipsing today’s tower by eighty feet thus providing much better visibility for the air traffic controllers. Further to the tower, the new facility will also include the latest in ATC technology as well as a greatly expanded radar facility.
A view of the C concourse showing the carpeting which is in the process of being replaced. Photo: Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. - OPShots.net
Cleveland’s Hopkins International airport (formerly Cleveland Municipal), was at one time at the leading edge of all things aviation…it was home to the first purpose-built air traffic control tower and played host to the original National Air Races, which were attended by all the aviation dignitaries of the time. Famous aviators such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Doolittle and many more were regular visitors. In addition to all the aviation history made here, space and aeronautical research history was made on the west side of the field through the contributions of NASA’s famed Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn) during the Cold War and the Space Race, ultimately helping man achieve supersonic flight and travel to the moon.
Such an auspicious place certainly deserves a nice doorstep, and the new flooring project is a small but good start in an effort that should go a long way in making Cleveland an attractive place to disembark. Whether you are coming home or just passing through, it will certainly be something you notice!
Illuminated by the skylights, this is a portion of the new flooring going down on the C concourse at CLE. Photo: Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. - OPShots.net
-Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. – OPShots.net
7 pings
Skip to comment form ↓