Best in Building Health 2026 Winner: SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Center Sets a New Standard for Healthy Airports

Best in Building HealthFeatured
Written By Janelle Decarreau

Designing for Health at Airport Scale

At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), building health is more than a design ambition—it is a responsibility. With nearly 58 million passengers each year and approximately 42,000 employees and on-site personnel, the airport operates at the scale of a small city, where supporting health and wellbeing is essential.

The SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Center, developed by San Francisco International Airport with Gensler, exemplifies this commitment. Recognized in the 2026 Best in Building Health Awards, the terminal demonstrates how human-centered design and operational excellence can advance health within one of the most complex building environments in the world.

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Following the COVID-19 pandemic, SFO elevated health and wellbeing as a strategic priority. The airport’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan emphasizes creating an environment where “people and planet come first.” Fitwel certification helped translate that vision into actionable design and operational strategies that support both passenger wellbeing and long-term building performance.

A Passenger Experience Centered on Wellbeing

Health and wellbeing are embedded throughout the passenger experience at Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Center. Key features include:

  • Sensory rooms designed to provide calming spaces for travelers

  • Yoga and fitness areas that support movement and relaxation

  • All-gender restrooms and parenting rooms that promote inclusivity

  • Healthy food options sourced from local Bay Area businesses

  • Extensive daylight and design elements that connect travelers to the region’s natural environment

Together, these strategies create an airport environment where passengers feel comfortable, supported, and connected to their surroundings.

Delivering Operational Value

Beyond the passenger experience, Fitwel certification has also delivered operational benefits. SFO reports that the certified terminal is outperforming comparable non-certified facilities, particularly in areas such as indoor air quality and maintenance performance.

The certification process also helped establish clear expectations for tenants and concessions—guiding decisions around materials, food offerings, and policies that support long-term asset value and health outcomes.

Equally important, the process strengthened collaboration across airport leadership, designers, and operators, embedding health-focused thinking into future development and planning decisions.

Building the Future of Healthy Airports

SFO continues to expand its commitment to healthy design and operations. Future priorities include integrating health strategies earlier in project planning, strengthening sustainability standards across Fitwel, CALGreen, and LEED, expanding air quality monitoring, and pursuing Fitwel v3 certification for upcoming projects, including Terminal 3 West.

The success of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Center demonstrates how major transportation infrastructure can prioritize health, wellbeing, and environmental performance while maintaining operational excellence.

As global travel continues to evolve, SFO offers a powerful model for how airports can create healthier, more resilient environments for the millions of people who pass through them each year.

 

Photos Courtesy of Gensler & Kuth Ranieri | Jason O’Rear Photography

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Janelle Decarreau
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