International Terminal, San Francisco International Airport

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San Francisco International Airport, originally Mills Field Municipal Airport, opened in 1927 when much of the Peninsula was pastureland. Over the years, it evolved from a modest administration building to the expansive International Terminal completed in 2000. This terminal serves as a vital connection between land and air, recognized for its innovative design as America’s first mid-rise terminal. It spans five levels and integrates various transportation modes, including cars, buses, BART, and an internal light-rail system. Design architect Craig Hartman of SOM describes the terminal’s roof as a “floating, sheltering plane,” symbolizing the transition between the ground and air. The structure, resembling a bridge, features a 380-foot span between central columns, creating a sense of lift-off for travelers. Built on friction-pendulum base insulators, it is designed to sway during earthquakes. The roof's trusses evoke images of the Bay Area’s rolling hills, airplane wings, and birds in flight, elegantly capturing the essence of airport design. Anne-Catrin Schultz, an architecture scholar with a Ph.D. from the University of Stuttgart, teaches at California College of the Arts and City College of San Francisco. Timothy Joseph Hursley, an architectural photographer with a rich background, has his work showcased globally.