Pago Pago International Airport
Tutuila, American Samoa
Project Outline
- Airport Retail and Hospitality Facility for existing International Airport
- Traditional Island Architecture (expressed in modern concrete and timber)
- Various Stewardship Projects
The Terminal at Pago Pago represents a unique social event that celebrates the coming and going of people whose lives comprise a close knit village structure. This combined with the relatively rare arrival and departure of planes (once weekly) generates a true celebration of arrival.
Families often arrive at the airport hours before a flight and remain for hours after the plane has gone. This pattern represents the merging of genuine family tradition with remnant Cargo Cult patterns infused among the Islands during WWII.
The airport becomes a day long tailgate party every week of the year. The retail facility added critical space to serve airport users, not for the traditional airport fare, but as a kit genuine neighborhood stores serving food, refreshments and only limited amounts of tourist "junk."
Other work in Pago Pago represented a series of Stewardship Projects that affected the existing terminal facilities. Projects ranged from Accessibility adjustments to Airport Expansion Master planning (since implemented).
Project Features
- 20,000 sf of enclosed retail space (typical structures are open air)
- Hurricane-resistant design
- Partial FAA funding source
- Remote construction management methods
