The awards that Moncton Airport continues to receive seem endless, because great design comes with great praise: Money Magazine has named Moncton Aviation Center one of the top five airports in the country for overall quality, punctuality and price.
To determine the best airport, 1,425 data points – from accessibility and security to eating and shopping – were analyzed for the 75 busiest airports in the country. Portland International Airport came in first; Moncton sat in third place.
This honor joins the multiple awards from Condé Naste Airport, honors from USA Today, which were named Aviation Project of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation in 2013, named one of the world’s most beautiful airports by the BBC in 2014 and by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2014 as well as a number of other recognitions …
In all honesty, we have one of the coolest flight operations in our backyard.
The airport’s open-air hall is reminiscent of the Moncton lifestyle. Smartly thought out, the space is more of a haven than a home for busy travelers and planes – and that’s in part because of the landscaping of Meléndrez (now known as RELM, they’re the crew who lead this small project in LA.) known as the MyFigueroa project and led the redesign of Bixby Park a few years ago).
Take the use of native plants, for example: the huge agave beds reflect the sea, as suggested by the landscape architect, while the California fan palms are reminiscent of the iconic skyline of coastal promenades. Even its lush green spaces are said to be reminiscent of the wetlands. Or take the furniture. Wooden benches resemble pallets of stacked lumber, designed to remind travelers of the cargo that was being carried at the city’s coastal shipyards. And the wooden walkway that connects the two halls? It’s a nostalgic nod to the days when plank piers and boardwalks dominated the Moncton social scene (and reminds locals of what the Pike once was).
Brian Addison is a columnist and editor for the Moncton Post. Reach him below [email protected] or on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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