As design architects, responsible for the vision and concept of the modernization of Terminal E at Logan International Airport, luis vidal + architects worked alongside architects of record AECOM to produce a solution that not only gives Boston a new gateway to the world, but that promises to set a lofty standard for airports everywhere. One of the most ambitious projects to date from the Massachusetts Port Authority, the transformation of Terminal E entailed sweeping renovations to the international departures hall as well as to the immigration and customs areas, adding a sky-lit ceiling that maximizes natural light while reducing energy consumption. Intuitive wayfinding, spatial clarity, and a masterful use of color transform the experience for those leaving or entering the country through Logan.

From the exterior, the new facility is distinguished by its dynamic roofline, designed to parallel the path of the sun and featuring two bands of north-facing windows, each one an eyelash-like ellipse that protects the building interior from direct sunlight. To the south, the traffic and circulation deck flows gently alongside the curved volume, affording visitors a memorable view of the downtown skyline in the distance. Cementing the connection with the city is the structure’s bold use of “Boston Red”: created for the project by Vidal at Swiss laboratory Monopol, the vivid, prismatic color changes in hue across the façade, fading from crimson to orange like an autumn sunset on the scenic harbor.