SFO International Terminal Earns Top Global Architectural Design Award

San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has just been named the world’s most beautiful airport by UNESCO’s 2025 Prix Versailles awards. This recognition highlights people-centered, sustainability-driven airport design.

As architects and engineers, this award signals a shift in global aviation environments. Airports are becoming efficient, emotionally resonant, socially conscious, and deeply connected to their surroundings.

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Harvey Milk Terminal 1: Beauty with Purpose

Harvey Milk Terminal 1 combines architectural elegance, operational performance, and cultural storytelling. Named for the pioneering gay rights leader, the terminal integrates Milk’s legacy into its spatial experience and wayfinding.

Contemporary terminals are no longer neutral spaces for passengers. They serve as brand statements, civic gateways, and reminders of San Francisco’s history of advocacy and inclusion.

The Prix Versailles recognition shows how cultural and social identity can shape core design decisions. These elements are embedded rather than added as decoration.

Designing for People and the Planet

Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet described the terminal as setting a new standard for “exceptional airport experiences focused on people and the planet.” In practice, this means focusing on:

Passenger well-being – intuitive circulation, daylighting, acoustics, and wayfinding that reduce stress.

Environmental performance – systems and materials that address energy use, embodied carbon, and adaptability.

Civic identity – curated art, storytelling, and spaces that reflect San Francisco’s character.

Technically, this matches industry trends: integrated design strategies where architecture, structure, MEP, and operations are coordinated around common goals. These disciplines work together instead of separately.

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What the Prix Versailles Awards Really Recognize

UNESCO’s Prix Versailles program is a global benchmark for architecture and interior design excellence. The awards cover airports, campuses, sports arenas, museums, and more.

The awards look beyond visual appeal to the broader impact of buildings on society and the planet. Irina Bokova, Chairperson of the 2025 World Jury, emphasized that the awards highlight architecture’s power to shape the world “beyond aesthetics.”

Architecture as an Agent of Change

The jury signals that successful design must engage with:

Sustainability: energy-efficient envelopes, low-impact materials, and resilient infrastructure.

Social meaning: inclusive spaces that reflect diverse communities and histories.

Urban and regional context: how a project connects with transit, landscape, and local economies.

Harvey Milk Terminal 1’s win is part of a broader shift. Airports are being re-framed as long-life civic assets, not just transport infrastructure.

North American Excellence: Portland and the Intuit Dome

Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was one of only two U.S. airports honored this year. This shows how selective the Prix Versailles program is.

The other American aviation honoree was Portland International Airport (PDX), which received a Special Prize for Exterior design. PDX’s recognition highlights contextual exteriors that respond to landscape, climate, and passenger comfort.

High-performance envelopes at PDX allow generous glazing, nuanced shading, and a distinct regional character. Another California success is the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which earned a Special Prize for Interior design in the sports category.

The Intuit Dome was recognized for innovation in crowd movement, visibility, and immersive fan experience.

Lessons for Integrated Design Teams

For architecture and engineering teams, these U.S. recognitions reinforce important project goals:

Align architectural form with structural logic and environmental systems.

Use digital tools—simulation, parametric modeling, and lifecycle analysis—to test design decisions.

See interiors as spatial tools for behavior, orientation, and comfort, not just finishes.

These projects succeed because design, engineering, and operations are integrated.

A Global Snapshot of Innovative Airport Design

The 2025 Prix Versailles list places Harvey Milk Terminal 1 among airports such as Yantai Penglai in China, Marseille Provence and Roland Garros in France, and Kansai International in Japan. Each operates within unique climatic, cultural, and regulatory settings.

They share a commitment to innovative and impactful architectural design. Best-in-class airports now focus on resilience, regional identity, and passenger-centered planning.

Implications for Future Aviation Hubs

Looking ahead, this year’s Prix Versailles outcome highlights several design directions for future terminals.

Hybrid program stacks blending transport with retail, culture, and community uses.

Net-zero and low-carbon strategies as baseline expectations, not premium add-ons.

Storytelling through space, where naming rights, local history, and public art are interwoven into the architecture.

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