On November 10, 2026, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced that Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has won multiple awards from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). The terminal was recognized as Project of the Year and received honors for Best in Design, Architecture, Best in Leadership/Training, National Award of Excellence, Aviation, and National Award of Merit, Aviation.
Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet stated that the terminal was designed to create a welcoming experience for travelers and emphasized the collaborative efforts that contributed to its success.
Press Release: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Published November 12, 2026. Reproduced in full from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Wins Multiple Awards for Design-Build
November 10, 2026
San Francisco
SF-26-37
SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Wins Multiple Awards for Design-Build
Named Project of the Year by Design-Build Institute of America
SAN FRANCISCO , November 10, 2026, The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has earned multiple awards for Harvey Milk Terminal 1. In their 2026 Design-Build Awards, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) recognized the Airport’s newest terminal with the following honors:
- Project of the Year
- Best in Design, Architecture
- Best in Leadership/Training
- National Award of Excellence, Aviation
- National Award of Merit, Aviation
“Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was designed to set a new standard for the airport experience, creating a welcoming beacon for travelers from around the world,” said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. “By breaking down barriers and organizational silos, the design-build approach unlocked the collaboration and problem-solving that delivered this exceptional outcome. In no other project was our commitment to this approach more fully realized than in Harvey Milk Terminal 1. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and hard work of our SFO staff and project partners, whose collaboration and shared commitment to excellence brought this vision to life. We are truly grateful for Harvey Milk Terminal 1 to be recognized at this level by the Design-Build Institute of America.”
The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 project opened in four phases. The first phase opened in July 2019 with the nine departure gates, followed in April 2020 by nine additional gates, an exterior façade with Harvey Milk signage, and a new ticket counter area. The third phase opened in May 2021 with seven more departure gates, a new post-security connector to the International Terminal, a new museum gallery, and a new display of exhibit content honoring the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. The fourth and final phase opened in June 2024 with a new north check-in lobby, a new mezzanine-level security checkpoint, two additional aircraft gates, and a new connecting walkway that links all SFO terminals post-security.
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