Terminal B at San Jose Airport Lands LEED Silver After Major Green Renovation

The high tech industry leaders of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</a> now have a state of the art <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/airport">airport</a> worthy of their business - and it's officially LEED Silver certified! After years of flying people in and out, the San Jose Mineta airport was not looking too hot. It was high time the airport got a major upgrade, and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-national-museum-of-the-marine-corps-is-a-green-roofed-monument-to-servicemen/">Fentress Architects</a> took the lead to design and manage the complicated renovation of Terminal B. The end result is a beautiful, solar-powered, naturally daylit space with an energy-efficient design that people will be happy to travel through.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/green-renovation">renovation</a> of the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport was a tricky affair that involved temporary terminals, a tight narrow site with little room to expand into and an ever bustling crowd of travelers flying in and out.

Inspiration for Terminal B's new design came from both the high tech world the airport caters to as well as the natural agricultural world the valley used to be.

The result is a sinuous <a href="http://inhabitat.com/slumtube-affordable-housing-made-from-shipping-pallets/">articulated tube</a> with a generous glass curtain wall broken by stretches perforated metal.

Layered and very textured, the building is a dynamic space filled with the latest state-of-the-art technology for the international traveler.

Sustainable design was at the heart of the renovation with a strong focus on lifecycle impact, energy and water efficiency and improved indoor air quality for the passengers.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/daylighting">Natural daylight</a> streams in through windows, skylights and the concourse's glass curtain wall, which is appropriately shaded to optimize energy use and light.

Energy efficiency strategies help the building exceed standards by 16% and water conservation measures achieved a 75% reduction.

Almost all of the construction waste was diverted and a 13% of the building's materials came from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/recycled-materials">recycled materials</a>.

One of the more innovative strategies are the airports new, high tech "air chairs" that were specifically designed for the San Jose Airport with the help of Zoeftig and airport officials.

Master plan for the San Jose Airport.

Cross section of Terminal B.

Front elevation of Terminal B.

Terminal B at San Jose Airport was completed in June of 2010 and was awarded its LEED Silver certification in February of 2011.