With an airport, the costs are passed on to the airlines and ultimately the customer. So if you end up building something that’s architecturally significant, it nearly always ends up being more expensive and you get fewer flights. That’s not good for anyone. Airports shouldn’t be architectural statements but rather functional buildings.

Dulles isn’t really a great example, because that midfield concourse was built as a temporary building. That wasn’t a smart move, and it was an awful design. I’m not suggesting that airports skimp on quality building materials and important designs that improve functionality. But when you build a soaring glass roof like LAX is proposing or you overbuild an airport like Indianapolis did, you will suffer the consequences of having fewer flights because the airport is too expensive.

I’m not suggesting that facilities be built as cheap as possible. I’m just suggesting that making something a soaring architectural statement should be reserved for other buildings that won’t have such a negative economic impact on the city when they end up being so expensive.

But the more important point is that you only need to look at Dulles Airport to see the problem with the fiscal lynch mob thinking. The main terminal is over 40 years old and it is still a positive symbol for Washington. It is the model for every major international airport (I just wish they’d invested in the rail a while ago). Terminal C/D was a value-driven design that is just miserable by any standard and the total cost after they replace it will be astronomical – but who’s around to take responsibility for that thinking?

That doesn’t mean that I think every airport should expand with architectural abandon. CDG is Exhibit A: Every terminal design swings for the bleachers and tries to outdo the others. The result looks like a boat show for buildings (sorry about all the analogies here, but I think they work). It is needlessly a confusing mess.

I’d like to see more criticism of the LAX expansion for its merits and flaws (which you have done). But if they’re going to build it, they need to think about the long life of the building even though they have to pay it off in a short time. Otherwise, they’ll be rebuilding and rebuilding. Maybe we can look at the design from this angle and decide whether or not they’re wasting our money on poor materials (ATL & PIT), poor layout (Dubai T3 and CDG), cheesy design features (BWI) or chaotic planning (JFK and MIA).

Love your blog and read it every chance I get.

When he told a joke or shared a laugh he bared his teeth much the same as he would going in for the kill. He was exactly what AA needed at exactly the right time.

Never met Herb, got to final interviews twice with SW, never got hired, in retrospect, that would not have been a good choice for me at the time though. Herb looks good, I wish him a long and happy life.