Duluth Airport Terminal Named for Jim Oberstar

Duluth International Airport named its new airport terminal after the man who helped make it a reality: the late Congressman Jim Oberstar. The airport hosted a dedication ceremony naming the facility after the Minnesota Congressman. As longtime chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Oberstar secured funding for many road, bridge, bike path and transit projects, including crucial funding for the $78 million Duluth terminal project.

“Congressman Oberstar was a champion of aviation in our region,” Duluth Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Werner said in a previous statement. “It’s through his leadership and vision that we have such a vibrant aviation sector at the Duluth International Airport today.”

TKDA provided interior design on the Terminal, collaborating with lead designer RS&H. The Duluth terminal’s long expanses of glass created a connection with its Northland setting. To strengthen this connection, TKDA interior designers chose materials and finishes native to northern Minnesota. The main lobby’s gently flowing ceiling plane and paneled walls evoke both water and woods, creating a tranquil, yet captivating atmosphere for the traveler. Warm, inviting tones in a natural palette — dark blue, muted green, creamy white, along with wood finishes and brushed metal — play off the area’s naturally cool climate.

The project was selected by Minnesota Council of Airports for a Project of the Year award in 2014.

TKDA also collaborated with RS&H on the terminal’s new parking structure.