Tampa’s airport gets generally good reviews for its design, but Southwest’s dramatic new terminal is on another level entirely. Using visual gestures both flamboyant and subtle, the designers (including Tampa’s Alfonso Architects) have managed to convey the romance and exhilaration of flight. The sweeping roof lines and long vistas lend a sense of grandeur, while smartly positioned public artworks offer surprises at every turn, from mosaic “portals” in the floor to the huge mural of passengers boarding an Eastern Airlines DC-7 by Tarpon Springs painter Christopher Still. This terminal’s so snazzy, you might not even mind a flight delay. Airside C, serving Southwest, Spirit, Midwest and Independence Air. General airport info: 813-870-8700.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.