Winner: San Francisco International, Terminal 3
The LEED Gold–certified, $138 million renovation of San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 3 boarding area was completed in January. Passengers at the ten United gates, covering 65,000 square feet, have access to private changing rooms, a yoga studio with an internally illuminated wall, and a waiting area with natural-feeling circadian-adaptive lighting, comfortable lounge furniture, and laptop plug-in stations with free Wi-Fi. To earn its LEED certification, the soaring space uses on-site photovoltaic energy and is outfitted with terrazzo tile made from recycled glass, recycled-content carpet, and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. It’s so Zen you won’t even mind a flight delay.
Runner-Up: Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
There are few more stunning arrivals than skirting the Tetons to land here. The airport is also LEED Silver certified and energy efficient, with daylight sensors that cut energy use (already 70 percent green power) by 18 percent, plumbing fixtures that reduce water use by 51 percent, a fleet of four electric- and propane-fueled operations vehicles, and native landscaping. Bonus: Jackson Hole now has direct flights from 12 major airports, including LAX, JFK, and Seattle-Tacoma.