Navigate Sea-Tac's Recent Security Checkpoint: A Guide to Avoiding Disorientation
Lowdown on the New Checkpoint 1 at SEA-Tac
Stumped on the whereabouts of the freshly opened Checkpoint 1 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport? Fear not! It's nestled downstairs on the baggage claim level, right beneath the historical Rutan Voyager replica and a 1920s biplane, the Alexander Eaglerock.
Confused about the shift? Well, the old Checkpoint 1 has now morphed into Checkpoint 2, with the numbering cascading down the line to Checkpoint 6 (formerly Checkpoint 5).
Port officials are thrilled about the expanded security capacity, courtesy of five new lanes. They claim this improvement will ensure a smoother journey for all travelers, echoing the ancient Roman saying – all security checkpoints lead to all gates.
While finding the new checkpoint is a cinch, navigating the airport may still feel like venturing through a labyrinth for some. This is partly due to the ongoing construction and the airport's relatively small footprint that's terribly cramped, given its surging passenger numbers.
Cindy Maki, the airport's signage and wayfinding whiz, likens the situation to building an aircraft while flying it. Her team is diligently working to help flustered travelers find their bearings in this historic 80-year-old airport trapped amid homes, highways, and more.
Digital signs displaying wait times at each security checkpoint, arrows on the floor, and pondering the best terminology for ride-sharing apps – rideshare, ride app, or Uber/Lyft – are part of their toolkit to act as a beacon of guidance when the airport starts feeling like a confusing maze.
Maki's journey didn't begin at the airport. She honed her wayfinding expertise at Amazon's corporate campuses worldwide. Drawn by the challenging yet manageable size, she jumped on board, hoping to wrap her arms around a project befitting her skills.
The airport, which spans a mere 2,500 acres, is a far cry from the expansive 33,500-acre Denver International Airport, the USA's largest. Despite its smaller stature, Seattle has been setting records, hosting an impressive 52.6 million passengers in 2024.
Denver might be bigger, but SEA's compact space demands thoughtful utilization of resources, as highlighted by Heather Karch, the airport's aviation facilities and infrastructure architecture manager.
Construction at the airport hasn't been taking a breather either. Since last year, travelers have been confronted by 120 projects, including a $1 billion International Arrivals Facility, a $546 million north end ticketing area reconfiguration, a $21.8 million Central Terminal renovation, and a $13.5 million cellphone parking lot.
The airport's five-year capital plan is projecting a massive $1 billion additional yearly investment in projects, primarily to wrap up key constructions before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the region.
Sabin Mudaliar, the head of terminal operations, regularly collaborates with contractors to keep updated on the project's progress, information that Maki and her team utilize to create efficient, temporary signs during construction.
Navigating the terminal may still present a challenge, but with these hardworking individuals stepping up to the plate, the chances of finding yourself lost in SEA's labyrinth are slimming down. And remember, when in doubt, look for the restroom, the light rail, or the parking garage!
- The airport's wayfinding expert, Cindy Maki, gained her skills from managing Amazon's corporate campuses, finding Seattle an appealing challenge amidst the compact space.
- The new Checkpoint 1 at SEA-Tac, located downstairs on the baggage claim level, is part of the airport's ongoing business transformation, aiming to improve transportation and lifestyle for its growing number of travelers.
- As traffic increases due to widespread traveling, digital signs displaying wait times at security checkpoints, like Checkpoint 1, might be useful for navigating the airport, similar to how ride-sharing services use different terminologies in various business operations.
- Despite the construction occurring throughout Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with projects including the $1 billion International Arrivals Facility and a $546 million north end ticketing area reconfiguration, the airport's collaborative team, including Sabin Mudaliar and Heather Karch, are working diligently to maintain effective transportation and lifestyle facilities for passengers.
