Oakland International Airport has completed its Terminal 2 Security Exit Project. The exit upgrade increases security at the airport and features new art that will welcome passengers to Oakland. Project costs totalled approximately $11 million with a six-month construction period.
“I’d like to thank our passengers for their patience over the past few months as our OAK team and contractors have been hard at work on the Terminal 2 Security Exit Project,” said Craig Simon, Interim Director of Aviation, Port of Oakland. “We are proud to unveil this finished product that will provide additional non-intrusive security measures while incorporating attractive design elements that welcome arriving passengers to our vibrant community.”
Construction on the exit system began in January 2023. To complete the expansive floor-to-ceiling work, passengers were rerouted to a temporary exit ramp that was installed alongside the entryway to the T2 concourse. The exit area was then blocked with construction walls while work was completed.
The new exit system is designed to prevent passenger backflow from non-secure areas, which enhances airport security and provides a cost-saving benefit. From this point forward, passengers exiting OAK’s T2 will pass through motion sensors and two sets of automatic doors in order to enter the public baggage claim area.
The new exit structure spans from floor to ceiling to prevent security breaches, and OAK’s design team chose to utilise the expansive vertical space as an opportunity to include a two-sided perforated aluminium art piece. On the secure side of the exit, arriving passengers will see a large-scale ‘Welcome to Oakland’ sign presented in front of imagery of the Oakland city skyline at sunset. From the opposite (public) side of the exit facing the baggage belts is an abstract piece that spells out ‘Oakland’. The perforated aluminium design allows ample airflow for the comfort of passengers.
