An architectural rendering illustration shows the view that will greet arriving passengers at the Pittsburgh International Airport’s new $1.57 billion terminal, anticipated for completion late this year.

PITTSBURGH — More than 70 years since it first opened its doors, the Pittsburgh International Airport has undergone significant transformations.

Initially proposed as a military facility, the airport in Moon Township has continuously evolved to meet each era’s demands. That practice continues today, as the airport nears completion of its latest addition: A new, $1.57 billion terminal.

Bob Kerlik, public affairs director for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, described the characteristics of the terminal — a space “built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh.”

“We’re building the airport of the future to really meet the needs of the Pittsburgh market of today,” he said.

The airport saw its current facility designed in the 1980s and opened in 1992, Kerlik said. Now 33 years old, the facility was designed primarily as a connecting hub for US Airways flights.

At the time, Kerlik said, connecting passengers accounted for more than 80 percent of the airport’s clientele, and the old terminal’s layout reflected that.

The facility is composed of two terminals — one land-side and the other air-side — that are connected by half a mile of underground rail. The air-side terminal has 360-degree access for all gates, according to US Airways’ wishes, Kerlik said. To compensate for the distance, the airport utilizes about eight miles worth of luggage conveyor belts.

The airport’s passenger base has since flipped to about 97 percent Pittsburgh O&D passengers, or individuals whose origin and final destination are Pittsburgh, Kerlik said. That amounts to about 9.95 million passengers annually.

Built for a different time, the old terminal and its amenities have proven insufficient for the present day, but Kerlik said the new terminal will resolve various issues and provide a better experience for O&D passengers, many of whom are residents of Eastern Ohio and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.

On track for completion later this year, the new land-side terminal is being constructed right up against the existing air-side terminal. The new facility will feature an expanded security checkpoint with 12 passenger lanes — compared to its pre-9/11 predecessor’s six — and eliminate the eight miles of bag belts, drastically shortening baggage claim wait times.

Kerlik said the reduction in spatial separation will cut passengers’ time from curb to gate in half.

Roads are being extended to reach the new terminal and bypass the old, Kerlik said. That facility will no longer be used and either be turned over to a developer or eventually razed.

Additionally, passengers arriving internationally will no longer exit on the post-security side, Kerlik said. That layout, which was designed for connecting passengers’ convenience, currently poses a longer journey to the parking lot for O&D passengers, Kerlik said. With the new terminal, international arrivals will exit on the pre-security side, making the trip “much, much more efficient.”

Covered parking spaces at the airport are a premium, Kerlik said, noting the airport’s current covered garage frequently fills up. The airport is adding a much larger covered garage that utilizes smart parking technology, so drivers can remotely see what spaces are open.

Pittsburgh-area residents are apt to park and pick up their loved ones indoors, Kerlik said. For those individuals, the new terminal will offer an indoor meet-and-greet space in the arrival section.

Visitors to the new terminal will have access to its various outdoor terraces throughout the facility. A luxury typically afforded only to special airline club members, the terraces will offer a landscape view to all ticketed passengers post-security, as well as loved ones waiting on the pre-security side, Kerlik said.

Guests will enjoy an enhanced concessions experience on the pre- and post-security sides, Kerlik said. More than 15 new concessions — local and chain favorites — will have been rolled out by the new terminal’s opening date, which has yet to be announced.

Architecturally, the new terminal is designed to evoke the “nature, technology and community” of Pittsburgh, Kerlik said.

Architectural firms Gensler and Luis Vidal + Architects “immersed themselves in Pittsburgh” when designing the building, which seeks to mimic the city and its surrounding region’s qualities: An undulating roof to mimic the rolling hills, tree-like columns to portray the vast forests and constellation lighting akin to the night sky.

After passing through the expanded security checkpoint, individuals will cross a bridge to connect with the air-side terminal. The short tunnel will emerge suddenly into the air-side terminal’s reconfigured center core, mirroring the Fort Pitt Tunnel and Pittsburgh’s downtown, Kerlik said.

“We want people to have that Pittsburgh experience when they’re coming into the airport,” he added.

The new terminal will provide improved Wi-Fi and implement emerging technology, including robotics and artificial intelligence, Kerlik said.

Construction of the terminal is generating about $2.5 billion in economic activity for the region, Kerlik said. That includes creating 14,000 total jobs, direct and indirect, with 90 percent of the workforce being locals.

The same goes for materials, Kerlik added, since the project is utilizing all American-made steel that’s then fabricated in Sippel Steel in Ambridge. Sustainability is another focus, with the expectedly LEED Gold-certified project repurposing 86,000 tons of crushed concrete to construct new roads.

The airport’s growing O&D passenger base has given rise to a 70 percent increase in non-stop destination offerings during the last 10 years, from 36 to 62, Kerlik said. The airport has welcomed seven new airlines, broadening its international and domestic reach.

The major airport was the first of its kind to begin producing 100 percent of its own power through an on-site microgrid, which employs five natural gas generators and 10,000 solar panels.

Redundancy is built into the system, Kerlik said, noting that Duquesne Light acts as the backup for electricity in the event of an outage. Serving as a model for other airports, the microgrid annually saves millions of dollars in utility costs for the airport. Kerlik added the airport hopes to create a sustainable aviation fuel production facility on site in the coming years.

All of these improvements and others — like the addition of the sensory respite area Presley’s Place — are ways Pittsburgh International Airport is moving into the future. Its present focus lies on the O&D passenger, Kerlik said, with the goal of “representing the Pittsburgh we are today.”